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THE  LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

DIVERSITY  Gr  ILLINOIS 


THE 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE, 


FROM  THE 

FOUNDATION  OF  THE  MONARCHY, 

TO  THE 

DEATH  OF  EOUIS  XVI. 

INTERSPERSED  WITH  ENTERTAINING  ANECDOTES,  AND 
BIOGRAPHIES  OF  EMINENT  MEN. 

> 

BY  WILLIAM  GRIMSHAW, 

AUTHOR  OP  “ A HISTORY  OP  THE  UNITED  STATES,  &C.n 


“ Vel  pace,  vcl  bcllo,  clarmn  fieri  licet;  et  qui  fecere,  at  qui  facta  aliorum  scripsere, 
multi  laudantur.” 


PHILADELPHIA: 

CRIGG  & ELLIOTT,  NO.  9 NORTH  FOURTH  ST. 


1840, 


Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania , to  wit: 

BE  IT  REMEMBERED,  That  on  thethirdday  of  June,  in  the  fifty-third  yenr  of  the 
Independence  of  the  United  States  of  America,  A.  D.  1829,  WILIJAM  GRIMSHAW, 
of  the  said  District,  has  deposited  in  this  office  the  title  of  a book,  the  right  whereof  he 
claims  as  author,  in  the  words  following,  to  wit:  — 

“The  History  of  France,  from  the  Foundation  of  the  Monarchy,  to  the  Death  of  Louis 
XVI.  Interspersed  with  entertaining  anecdotes,  and  biographies  of  eminent  men.  By 
William  Grimshaw,  Author  of  “A  History  of  the  United  States,  &c.”  “Velpace,  vel 
bello,  clarum  fieri  licet:  et  qui  fecere,  et  qui  facta  aliorum  scripsere,  multi  laudantur.” 

In  conformity  to  the  Act.  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  entitled,  “ An  Act  for 
the  Encouragement  of  Learning,  by  securing  the  Copies  of  Maps,  Charts,  and  Books,  to 
the  Authors  and  Proprietors  of  such  Copies,  during  the  times  therein  mentioned:” — And 
also  to  the  Act,  entitled,  “An  Act  supplementary  to  an  Act,  entitled,  “An  Apt  for 
the  Encouragement  of  Learning,  by  securing  the  Copies  of  Maps,  Charts,  and  Books,  to 
the  Authors  and  Proprietors  of  such  Copies  during  the  times  therein  mentioned,”  and 
oxtending  the  benefits  thereof  to  the  arts  of  designing,  engraving,  and  etching  historical 
and  other  prints.” 

D.  CALDWELL, 

Clerk  of  ike  Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania 


PlllNTKD  BY  T.  K.  AND  P.  U.  COLLINS. 


TW 

k 

INDEX. 


W 

uj 

2T 

CP 

ZE 


A, 

Abderamme,  22. 

Abelard,  70. 

Academie  Fran£aise,  211. 

Acre,  siege  of,  74,  75,  96. 
Agincourt,  battle  of,  128,  129,  130. 
Aix-la-Chapclle,  treaty  of,  218,  241. 
Alaric,  13,  14,  15. 

Albigenses,  73,  90,  91. 

Almanza,  battle  of,  226. 

Alva,  duke  of,  173,  190. 
Anastasius,  16. 

Ancre,  marquis  of,  204,  205. 
Anselm,  gen.  296. 

Arnay-le-Duc,  battle  of,  184. 
Arnold,  42,  43. 

Artillery,  108. 

Ascalon,  battle  of,  75. 

Assignats,  276. 

B. 


i Bailly,  m.  261,  270. 

Barrere,  299. 

^ 'Bastile,  destruction  of,  271,  272. 
Bayard,  chevalier,  159,  162,  165. 
Belgae,  11. 

Belleisle,  capture  of,  245. 

7 Berry,  d.  of,  247. 

3 Berwick,  d.  of,  226,  232. 

Bible,  121. 

Black  Prince,  106,  107,  108,  109, 
110,  115,  116,  119,  120,  121. 

^ Blenheim,  battle  of,  225,  226. 

*1  Blondel,  76,  77. 

Boileau,  231. 

^ Bollmann,  Dr.  288,  289,  290,  291, 
292. 

° Borgia,  Caesar,  159. 

Boulflers,  marshal,  223,  225. 
Bouille,  marquis  of,  254,  278. 
Boyne,  battle  of,  223. 

Braddock,  gen.  242,  243. 
".Brandon,  Charles,  161,  162. 
Brissot,  m.  283,  298,  299. 


Brittanny,  countess  of,  105,  106. 
Broglio,  marshal,  272,  273. 
Brunehaud,  19,  20. 

Brunswick,  d.  of,  285,  296. 
Buckingham,  d.  of,  207,  208f  209. 
Buifon,  m.  261. 

Byng,  adm.  243. 

C 

Calais,  siege  of,  108,  109,  110,  111 
Calonne,  m.  de,  261,  262,  263,264 
265. 

Calvin,  John,  174,  175. 
Cambaceres,  299. 

Camus,  295,  298. 

Canada,  capture  of,  246. 

Canal  of  Languedoc,  217. 

Cape  Breton,  capture  of,  241,  245. 
Capet,  Hugh,  48,  49,  50. 

Carloman  I.  23,  27,  28,  40. 
Carloman,  II.  41. 

Castrees,  marq.  de,  262. 

Catherine  of  Medicis,  171, 181, 182, 
184,  185,  191. 

Cerizoles,  battle  of,  170. 

Charibert,  18,  20. 

Charlemagne,  27,  28  29, 30, 31, 32, 
33,  34,  49. 

Charles  the  Bald,  35,  39,  40,  49. 
Charles  the  Fat,  41,  42. 

Charles  Martel,  21,  22,  23,  49. 
Charles  the  Simple,  42,  43,  44,  45, 
49. 

Charles  IV.  102. 

Charles  V.  118. 

Charles  VI.  124, 125, 126, 131,  132, 
133,  134,  135. 

Charles  VII.  135,  136,  143,  144. 
Charles  VIII.  151,  153,  154,  155, 
156,  157,  158. 

Charles  V.  the  emperor,  163,  164 
165,  167, 168, 169,  170,  172,  173, 
Charles  IX.  177,  180,  181,  184,  185, 
186,  187,188,189. 


& JL  JL-  v>  O* 


VI 


INDEX. 


Chartres,  d.  of,  afterwards  Egalite 
the  younger,  250. 

Chevalier  St.  George,  See  Pretender, 
Childebert,  17,  18,  21. 

Childeric,  11,  21. 

Childeric,  II.  26. 

Chilperic,  13,  19. 

Chivalry,  59,  60,  61,  62,  63,  64, 65, 

66. 

Choiseul,  d.  of,  251. 

Clairfait,  gen.  296. 

Claviere,  M.  280,  283,  286. 

Clery,  M.  287,  300. 

Clock,  striking,  32,  123,  124. 
Clodion,  11. 

Clodoalde,  18. 

Clodomir,  17. 

Clodomir,  17,  18. 

* Clotaire,  II.  17,  18,  19,20, 

Clotaire,  III.  21. 

Clovis,  11,  12,  13,  14,  15,  16. 
Clovis,  21. 

Colbert,  217,  221. 

Collot  d’Herbois,  295,  298. 
Constituent  Assembly,  279. 
Closter-Seven,  convention  of,  244. 
Clotilda,  13,  14. 

Coligni,  adm.  176,  178,  179,  181, 
182,  183,  184,  185,  186,  187. 
Coligni,  the  younger,  194 
Cologna,  family  of,  98,  162. 
Columbus,  157. 

Combat,  trial  by,  95. 

Commines,  Philip  de,  148. 
Conflans,  m.  de  246. 

Conchini,  204. 

Conde,  p.  of,  176, 177, 178, 179, 181, 
182,  183. 

Conde  p.  of,  the  younger,  183, 184, 
187,  189, 191,200,  201,  205. 
Conde,  p.  of  the  great,  213,  214, 
216,  219,  220. 

Condorcet,  261,  283,  298. 

Conflans,  m.  de  246. 

Constable,  title  of,  33. 

Contades,  marshal  de,  245. 

Conti,  p.  of,  194,214. 

Cordeliers,  90. 

Corderius,  175. 

Corneille,  231. 

Cornwallis,  marquis,  256,  257,258. 


Corsica,  247,  248. 

Coucy,  Ralph  de,  75. 

Crecy,  battle  of,  106,  107, 108, 130 
Crillon,  d.  de,  254,  257. 

Crown  point,  siege  of,  245. 
Crusades,  56, 57, 58, 70, 92,93,94,96 
Cullodon  Moor,  battle  of,  241. 
Custine,  gen.  296. 

D. 

Dagobert,  20. 

Dainville,  marshal,  189,  190. 
D’Alembert,  261. 

Damiens,  Francis,  243,  244. 
D’Angouleme,  duchess,  302. 
Daniel,  Arnaud,  83,  84. 

Danton,  M.  283,  286,  294,  299. 
D’Artois,  count,  247, 266, 273,  302. 
Dauphin,  112. 

De  Brienne,  M.  265. 

De  Grasse,  count  de,  256,  258. 
Delphin  classics,  230. 
Dendermonde,  siege  of,  240. 

De  Retz,  card.  206,  214. 

De  Ruyter,  adm.  219,  221. 

Deseze,  M.  299,  300. 

Desiderius,  29. 

Dettingen,  battle  of,  236. 

De  Witt,  Cornelius,  220. 

De  Witt,  John,  219,  220. 

Diderot,  m.  261. 

Dieskaw,  gen.  243. 

Dillon,  marshal,  282. 

Doria,  Anthony,  107. 

Droit  d’  aubaine,  276. 

Drouet,  m.  de,  278. 

Dubois,  cardinal,  233. 

Dumorier,  gen.  280,  281,  283,  295* 
296,  297. 

Du  Quesne,  fort,  242. 

Du  Quesne,  marquis  of,  246. 

E. 

Edgeworth,  Rev.  M.  301. 

Egalite,  M.  See  d.  of  Orleans . 
Elizabeth,  princess,  284,  286. 
Eudes,  41,  42. 

Eugene,  prince,  224,  226. 

F. 

Fabre,  299. 

, Family  Compact,  245, 254. 


INDEX, 


VI 


Fastolfe,  sir  Charles,  135. 

Faustus,  John,  150,  151. 

Fayette,  marquis  de  la,  252,  255, 
272,  273,  274,  27 5,  282,  283, 284, 
287. 288,  289,  290,  291,  292,  295, 
302. 

Feast  of  the  Ass,  59. 

Flag,  national,  277. 

Fleury,  cardinal,  233,  234,  235. 
Fleury,  m.  Joli  de,  257,  261. 
Fontainbieau,  palace  of,  217;  treaty 
of,  246. 

Fontenoy,  battle  of,  237,  238,  239. 
Fornova,  battle  of,  156. 

Francis  I.  162,  163,  164,  165,  166, 
167,  168,  169,  170,  171. 

Francis,  II.  175,  176,  177. 
Franklin,  Benj.  252. 

Franks,  11,  12. 

Fredegonda,  19. 

Frederick  the  Great,  234,  235, 236, 
240,  241,  246. 

Friends  of  the  People,  270. 
Froissard,  121. 

G. 

Gabelle,  112. 

Galigni,  Leonora,  204,  205, 206. 
Gallisoniere,  marquis,  243. 

Gama,  Vasca  de,  157. 

Ganganelli,  pope,  250. 

Garniere,  M.  230. 

Gauls,  11,  12,  13. 

Gemappe,  battle  of,  297. 

Gerard,  m.  254. 

Gibraltar,  siege  of,  254. 

Godefroy  of  Bouillon,  57,  58. 
Godemar,  17. 

Gondebald,  13,  17. 

Gondebaud,  19. 

Gondegisile,  13. 

Gontran,  18,  19. 

Gourdan,  Bertrand  de,  78. 
Grammont,  d.  de,  238. 

Grasse,  count  de,  256. 

Gray,  lady  Jane,  162. 

Grimoald,  21. 

Guesclin,  Bernard  du,  118,  119. 
Guichen,  adm.  de,  255. 

Guillotine,  M.  281. 

Guise,  duke  of,  171,  172,  173, 175, 
178,  179,  186,  191. 


Guise,  d.  of,  the  younger,  194, 199. 
Guy  of  Lusignan,  74. 

H. 

Harfleur,  siege  of,  127. 

Harold,  54,  55. 

Haroun  A1  Rashid,  32. 

Hastings,  battle  of,  55. 

Henry  I.  53. 

Henry  II.  171,  173,  174. 

Henry  III.  189,  190,  191,  192. 
Henry  IV.  182,  183, 184,  185, 187, 
190,  191,  192, 193,  194, 195, 196, 
197,  198,  199,  200, 201, 202, 203. 
Huger,  Francis  K.  290,  291,  292. 
Hugh  the  Great,  44,  47. 

Hugh  Capet,  48,  49,  50. 

Hugonots,  174,  176,  177,  178,  179, 
180,  131,  182,  183, 184,  185, 186, 
187,  188, 189, 190, 208, 210, 222. 

I. 

Jacobins,  270,  280,  283,  284. 
Jarnac,  battle  of,  182,  183. 
Jerusalem,  siege  of,  57,  58. 

India,  trade  to,  203. 

John,  113,  114, 115,  116,  117,  121. 
Joinville,  Sieur,  93,  95. 

Jour,  William  de  la,  87. 

Jury,  trial  by,  276. 

K. 

Kellermann*  gen.  296. 

Koster,  Laurentius,  150. 

L. 

Lacepede,M.280. 

Lacoste,  M.  280. 

La  Fontaine,  231. 

Landen,  battle  of,  223. 

La  Perouse,  259. 

Lamballe,  princess  de,  294,  295. 
Lasource,  M.  298. 

Launay,  marquis  de,  271,  272. 
Law,  John,  233. 

Lc  Brun,  286. 

Le  Dain,  Oliver,  147,  152,  153. 
Legendre,  M.  299. 

Legislative  Assembly,  279. 

Library  Royal,  121. 


INDEX 


viii 


Lorgcs,  count  dc,  272. 

Lothaire,  34,  35,  36,  37,  38,  47,  48. 

Louisburg,  capture  of,  245. 

Louis  the  Debonnaire,  34,  35,  36. 

Louis  the  Stammerer,  41. 

Louis  III.  41. 

Louis  IV.  43,  44. 

Louis  V.  45,  46,  47,  49. 

Louis  VI.  67,  68,  69. 

Louis  VII.  70,  71,  72. 

Louis  VIII.  90. 

Louis  IX.  90,  91,  92,  93,  94,  95,  98. 

Louis  X.  101. 

Louis  XI.  144,  145,  146,  147,  148, 
149,  150. 

Louis  XII.  158,  159,  160,  161. 

Louis  XIII.  203, 204, 205, 206, 208, 
209,210,  211,212. 

Louis  XIV.  212,  214, 215, 216, 217, 
218,  219, 220,  221, 222,  223, 224, 
225,  226,  227, 228,  229, 230, 242, 
268,  273. 

Louis  XV.  232,  234,  235,  236, 237, 
238, 241,  242, 243, 244,  245, 246, 
247,  248. 

Louis  XVI.  249,250, 251,252, 253, 
255,  257,  260, 262,  263, 265,  266, 
267,  268,  269, 275,  276, 277,  278, 
279,  282, 283,  284, 285,  286, 287, 
298,  299,  300,  302. 

Louis  XVII.  301. 

Louis  XVIII.  301. 

Louvre,  palace  of,  217. 

Luckner,  marshal,  282. 

Luther,  Martin,  168. 

Luxembourg,  d.  of,  219,223. 

M. 

Maintenon,  madame  de,  221,  225. 

Malesherbes,  M.  249,  299,  300. 

Manny,  sir  W alter,  106,109,1 10,1 1 1. 

Maria  Antoinette,  248,  275,  277, 
278,  279,  301. 

Marignano,  battle  of,  163. 

Marlborough,  d.  of,  225,  22 6,  228 

Marat,  294,  299. 

Marot,  230,  231. 

Marquis,  origin  of  the  title,  30. 

Martel,  Charles,  21,  22,  23. 

Mary,  q.  of  Scots,  174,  175. 

Mauntisier,  d.  of,  230. 


Maurepas,  count  de,  249. 

Mayors  of  the  Palace,  20. 

Mazarin,  cardinal,  211,  212,  213, 
214,  215.  216. 

Medicis,  Cath.  of,  171,  177,  181, 
182,  185,  186,  194. 

Meroveus,  11. 

Minden,  battle  of,  245. 

Minorca,  capture  of,  243,  257. 
Mirabeau,  count,  265,  277,  287. 
Moleire,  231. 

Monge,  M.  286. 

Montaigne,  230,  231. 

Montcalm,  marquis  de,  245. 
Montcolour,  battle  of,  183. 
Montecuculli,  220. 

Montesquieu,  261. 

Montmorenci,  constable,  166,  169, 
171,  179,  181,  194. 

Montmorenci,  the  younger,  190, 
194,211. 

Munster,  treaty  of,  213. 

N. 

Namur,  siege  of,  223. 

Nantz,  edict  of,  198,  208,  222,  276. 
National  Assembly,  269,  270,  271, 
279,  298. 

National  Convention,  298. 
National  Guards,  273. 

Navy,  120. 

Necker,  James,  251,  257,  261,  262, 
267,  268,  271,275,  276,  287 
Niagara,  siege  of  fort,  245. 
Nimeguen,  221. 

Noailles,  m.  de,  236,  238. 

Notables,  264,  265. 

O. 

Orange,  p.  of,  219,  220,  221,  222, 
223,  225. 

Organ,  32. 

Orleans,  d.  of,  afterwards  Egalit«$, 
250,  267,  268,  275,  300. 

Ormond,  d.  of,  228. 

Oudenarde,  siege  of,  239. 

P. 

Paine,  Thomas,  283. 

Painting,  122. 

PandecUs  of  Justinian,  66. 


INDEX, 


IX 


Jaoli,  gen.  247,  248. 

Paper,  manufactory  of,  123. 

Paris,  becomes  the  capital  of 
France,  16. 

Parliaments,  97,  100* 

Pastoret,  M.  280. 

Pavia,  battle  of,  166. 

Pepin  d’Heristal,  21. 

Pepin  the  Short,  23,  25,  26, 27,  28, 
49. 

Peronne,  145. 

Peter  the  Hermit,  56,  57. 

Peter  the  Great,  233. 

Petion,  M.  285,  286,  298,  299. 
Pharamond,  11. 

Philip  I.  54,  56,  58. 

Philip  II.  72,  73,  74,  75, 76,  77,  78, 
79,  80,  81. 

Philip  III.  96. 

Philip  IV.  96,  97,  98,  100. 

Philip  V.  101,  102. 

Philip  VI.  103,  104,  105,  107,  108, 

112. 

Pius  VI,  250,  281,  282. 
Plessis-Les-Tours,  148. 
Pondicherry,  245. 

Pont-Neuf,  203. 

Portsmouth,  duchess  of,  218. 
Post-offices,  193. 

Poictiers,  battle  of,  115,  116,  130. 
Pragmatic  Sanction,  95. 

Pretender,  225,  240,  241. 

Printing,  150,  151. 

Protestants,  168. 

Provence,  count  of,  247,  279,  302. 
Pyrennees,  treaty  of  the,  216. 

Q. 

Quebec,  founded,  203;  siege  of, 
245,  246. 

Querouaille,  mad’lle,  218. 
Quinault,  231. 

R. 

Rabelais,  230,  231. 

Racine,  231. 

Radstadt,  treaty  of,  228. 

Ramillies,  battle  of,  226. 

Ratisbon,  treaty  of,  221. 

Ravaillac,  Francis,  201,  202,204. 
Baynal,  261. 


Revolution, commencement  of, 270. 
Richard  Coeur  de  Lion,  63,  74,  75, 
76,  77,  78. 

Richelieu,  cardinal,  205,  206,  207. 

208,  209,210,211. 

Richelieu,  d.  of,  243,  244,  245* 
Rights  of  Man,  274. 

Robert  the  Strong,  42. 

Robert  Capet,  51,  52. 

Robespierre,  Maximilian,  294, 299. 
Rochambeau,  count  de,  255,  256. 
Rochambeau,  gen.  282# 

Rodney,  adm.  258. 

Rodolph,  44,  45. 

Rohan,  d.  of,  205,  210. 

Roland,  31. 

Roland,  M.  280,  281,  283, 28flL 
Rollo,  43,  45. 

Rousseau,  261. 

Rudel,  Geoffry,  82,  83. 

Ryswick,  peace  of,  223. 

S. 

Saladin,  74,  75,  76. 

Salique  Law,  24,  102. 
Sans-Culottes,  281. 

Santerre,  M.  300. 

Saracens,  22. 

Sartine,  m.  262. 

Savannah,  siege  of,  254. 

Saxe,  marsh.  236,  237,  238,  239. 
Schoeffer,  Peter,  150. 

Serfs,  68,  69. 

Servan,  M.  283,  286. 

Sieyes,  abbe,  274. 

Sigebert,  19. 

Sigebert,  II.  18,  21. 

Sigesmond,  17. 

Silk,  203. 

Soissons,  battle  of,  16. 

Sorbonne,  college  of  the,  95,  96. 
States- General,  267,  268,  269. 

St.  Bartholomew,  massacre  of, 
186,  187,  188. 

St.  Bernard,  70,  71. 

St.  Cloud,  18. 

St.  Dennis,  abbey  of,  20. 

St.  Germain,  count  de,  251. 

St.  Just,  M.  299. 

St.  Pierre,  Eustace,  109,  110,  111. 
St.  Simon,  marquis  de,  256. 


X 


INDEX- 


Sally,  d.  of,  195, 197, 198, 199, 200, 
204. 

Syagrius,  16. 

T. 

Tallard,  marshal,  225,  226. 
Talleyrand  de  Perigord,  274. 
Templars  Knights,  58,  99,  100. 
Ternay,  chev.  de,  255. 

Thoedebald,  21. 

Theodebert,  18. 

Theoderic,  15. 

Thierry,  16,  17,  18,  21,  26. 

Thomas  a Becket,  71,  72. 

Thou,  M.  de,  211. 

Ticonderoga,  siege  of,  245. 

Tiers  Etat,  68,  97,  100,  267,  268, 
270. 

Tournay,  siege  of,  237,  239. 
Tourville,  adm.  223. 

Transtamara,  count  of,  118. 

Triple  League,  218. 

Tronchet,  M.  299,  300. 
Troubadours,  81,  82. 

Truguet,  admiral,  296. 

Tuilleries,  built,  217;  attacked,  285. 
Turenne,  marshal,  214,  215,  216, 
218,  219,  220,  225. 

Turgot,  m.  250,  251. 


U. 

United  States,  independence  of, 
252,  260. 

Utrecht,  treaty  of,  228. 

V. 

Valence,  gen.  297. 

Vauban,  219. 

Vaudreuil,  marq.  of,  258,  259. 
Vergennes,  count  de,  249,  260. 
Versailles,  palace  of,  217. 

Vidal,  Peter,  87,  88. 

Villars,  marshal,  225,  228. 

Villeroy,  marshal,  223,  224,  226. 
Visigoths,  12,  13,  14, 15. 

Voltaire,  261. 

W. 

Washington,  gen.  243,  252,  255, 
256,  272,  293. 

William  I.  duke  of  Normandy,  45, 
46. 

William  the  Conqueror,  53,  54,  55, 
56. 

Wolsey,  cardinal,  165,  167. 

y. 

Yorktown,  capture  of,  256,  25T. 


THE 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE  FIRST,  OR  MEROVINGIAN  RACE  OF  KINGS. 

From  the  Foundation  of  the  Monarchy  by  Clovis,  to  the  Abdication  of  Carloman,  the 
last  of  the  first  race  of  kings. 

a.  d.  486— 750. 

THE  kingdom  of  France  extends  over  the  greater  part  of 
that  vast  territory,  known,  to  the  ancient  Romans,  by  the 
name  of  Gaul.  Under  this  appellation,  were  included, 
also,  the  Cantons  of  Switzerland,  and  the  Low  Countries, 
or  Holland.  The  former  were  inhabited  by  a people  called 
the  Helvetii ; the  latter,  by  the  Belgae  : but,  to  these  nations, 
were  given,  in  the  time  of  Caesar,  by  whom  they  were  re- 
duced under  the  Roman  power,  the  general  name  of  Gauls 
In  the  reign  of  the  emperors  Valerian  and  Gallien,  the 
F ranks,  a people  of  Gothic  descent,  were  settled  in  Germany, 
between  the  Elbe  and  the  Rhine.  They  received  the  name 
of  Franks , or  freemen,  from  their  union  to  resist  the  domi- 
nation of  the  Romans.  We  learn,  from  a medal  of  Constan- 
tine the  Great,  that  there  was,  on  the  north  side  of  the 
Rhine,  in  the  beginning  of  the  fourth  century,  a canton, 
which  bore  the  name  of  Francia.  A succession  of  kings 
began  there,  in  the  time  of  Honorius  5 the  first  of  whom  was 
Pharamond,  followed  by  Clodion,  Meroveus,  and  Childeric. 
These  princes  made  occasional  irruptions  into  Gaul ; but 
none  ot  them  fixed  his  residence  there  5 having  returned 
to  their  own  habitations,  with  their  spoil,  or  been  driven 
back  by  the  Romans.  But  Clovis,  the  son  of  Chil- 
486*  ^eric,  was  n°t  eas^y  satisfied  with  plunder,  nor 
so  easily  repulsed.  He  passed  the  Rhine,  at  the  head 
of  a numerous  army,  and  founded  the  monarchy  of  France, 
or  the  Land  of  Freemen,  in  that  great  and  fruitful  pro- 
vince. 


12 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE, 


It  was  in  the  fifth  year  of  his  reign,  and  the  twentieth  of 
his  age,  that  he  entered  upon  the  execution  of  this  great 
design. 

The  condition  of  the  Franks,  resembled  that  of  almost 
every  other  nation,  in  their  primeval  state.  More  jealous  of 
liberty,  than  desirous  of  obtaining  the  luxuries  of  life,  they 
were  strangers  to  silver  and  gold ; and  all  their  commerce 
was  carried  on  by  exchange.  Their  forests  were  their  only 
towns : their  houses  consisted  of  subterraneous  caverns, 
or  of  rustic  habitations,  composed  of  wood,  cemented  with 
clay.  Their  possessions  were  confined  to  such  lands,  as 
the  prince  or  the  magistrate  distributed  amongst  them,  every 
year,  according  to  their  services,  or  rank.  Their  hospi- 
tality was  a theme  of  universal  admiration.  Their  houses 
were  always  open  to  the  stranger  •,  who  was  treated  with 
kindness,  as  long  as  he  chose  to  remain ; and,  at  his  depar- 
ture, was  loaded  with  presents.  Their  religion  was  not 
less  simple,  than  their  manners.  The  sun,  the  moon,  fire, 
trees,  and  rivers,  were  their  deities.  Their  temples  were 
rocky  caverns,  or  the  most  gloomy  recesses  of  their  forests, 
impenetrable  to  the  light  of  day.  Human  victims,  sheep, 
wolves,  and  foxes,  were  the  sacrifices,  offered  by  them  to 
their  gods;  and  their  priests  were  less  deeply  versed  in 
theology,  than  magic. 

The  principal  amusements  of  their  children,  were  wrest- 
ling and  riding.  Their  arms  were  the  sword,  the  lance  or 
halbert,  the  sling,  the  mallet,  the  javelin,  the  battle-axe,  and 
a species  of  heavy  club.  Their  shield  was  oblong,  composed 
of  osier  twigs,  or  the  bark  of  trees ; this,  with  a cuirass, 
covered  with  the  skin  of  a bear,  or  wild  boar,  and  a helmet 
crested  with  a horse’s  tail,  dyed  red,  formed  their  only  ar- 
mour. 

Such,  were  the  ancient  Franks,  or  Germans ; who  were 
often  attacked,  sometimes  beaten,  but  never  totally  subdued, 
by  the  Romans. 

Gaul  was,  at  this  time,  divided  amongst  the  Visigoths, 
the  Burgundians,  and  the  Romans.  The  Roman  territory 
extended  along  the  Rhine  $ and  comprised  nearly  all  the 
provinces  between  that  river,  the  ocean,  and  the  Loire. 
The  Burgundians  possessed  those  parts  between  the  Saone 
and  the  Rhone ; and  several  towns,  on  both  sides  of  these 
rivers.  They  were  masters  of  Lyons,  Vienne,  and  Geneva  : 
they  spread  as  far  as  that  country  now  called  Dauphine,  and 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


13 


also  the  province  between  the  Durance  and  the  Rhone,  and 
Savoy.  The  Visigoths  occupied  the  rest  of  the  country, 
from  the  Loire,  to  the  Alps  and  Pyrenees.  The  young 
king  Alaric  then  reigned  over  the  Visigoths  $ Gondebald  and 
Gondegesile,  over  the  Burgundians.  Italy  was  in  the  pos- 
session of  Theoderic,  king  of  the  Ostrogoths  $ the  Roman 
Empire,  the  seat  of  which  was  Constantinople,  was  subject 
to  Anastasius  $ who,  less  hostile  to  the  Franks,  than  to  Theo- 
deric, and  the  other  chieftains  by  whom  the  empire  had  been 
dismembered,  was  desirous  of  being  at  amity  with  Clovis. 

The  ordinary  residence  of  the  Roman  general,  who  had 
then  the  charge  of  Gaul,  was  Soissons  $ where,  he  was  at- 
tacked by  Clovis,  and  entirely  defeated ; after  which  over- 
throw, the  Roman  power,  in  Gaul,  before  rapidly  declining, 
was  totally  extinct. 

In  the  age  immediately  preceding  the  irruption  of  the 
Franks,  learning  flourished  in  Gaul ; and  this  country  had 
as  extensive  a commerce,  as  any  part  of  the  Roman  empire, 
Italy  excepted.  Marseilles  was  the  chief  emporium  of  its 
commerce.  The  Gauls  had  long  been  completely  Roman- 
ized $ and  the  Latin  was  the  common  language  of  the  nation. 

Clovis  being,  at  this  time,  a pagan,  his  marriage  with 
Clotilda,  a Christian  princess,  niece  of  Gondebald, 
one  of  the  Burgundian  kings,  was  an  event,  very  gratifying 
to  the  Gauls,  lately  subjected  by  Clovis  5 they  being  them- 
selves of  the  Christian  faith.  The  Visigoths  and  Burgun- 
dians were  Christians  of  the  Arian  sect ; the  Gauls,  recently 
brought  under  the  dominion  of  Clovis,  were  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  persuasion. 

But  the  marriage  of  his  niece,  to  Clovis,  was  not  alto- 
gether pleasing,  to  the  Burgundian  prince.  The  ambassador 
of  the  former,  had  not  proceeded  far,  with  Clotilda,  in  her 
journey  towards  his  kingdom,  when,  the  princess,  having 
received  advice,  that  a party  was  likely  to  be  despatched, 
by  her  uncle,  to  bring  her  back,  told  her  conductor,  that, 
if  he  desired  to  carry  her,  in  safety,  to  the  country  of  the 
Franks,  they  must  quit  the  carriage  in  which  they  travelled  ; 
which  being  drawn  by  oxen,  made  but  slow  progress.  Upon 
this,  he  set  her  on  horseback,  left  a guard  with  the  chariot, 
and  then  went  forward,  with  great  expedition,  till  they 
reached  the  frontier  of  the  kingdom. 

The  necessity  of  this  precaution,  was  soon  apparent.  A 
detachment  of  horse,  sent  after  the  princess,  overtook  the 


14 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


chariot,  and  carried  it  back ; together  with  the  greater  part  of 
the  money,  and  other  articles  of  value,  given  to  Clotilda,  as 
a marriage  portion. 

Although,  being  a Burgundian,  Clotilda  had  been 
nursed  in  the  bosom  of  the  Arian  church,  she  had 
lately  embraced  the  Roman  Catholic  faith.  She  was  assi- 
duous in  her  endeavours  to  convert  her  husband  to  Chris- 
tianity; and  was  at  length  rendered  successful,  by  a fortunate 
occurrence.  In  a battle  with  the  Allemanni,  who  had  passed 
the  Rhine,  with  the  intention  of  driving  the  Franks  from 
the  countries  which  they  had  conquered,  Clovis,  being  hard 
pressed  by  the  enemy,  made  a vow,  it  is  said,  that  if  he  were 
victorious,  he  would  embrace  the  religion  of  Clotilda ; and, 
having  gained  the  battle,  he  accordingly,  when  arrived  at 
Rheims,  was  there  baptized.  Three  thousand  of  the  most 
considerable  persons  of  his  court  and  army,  followed  his 
example,  on  the  same  day ; and  Christianity  was,  in  a short 
time,  embraced,  by  all  the  royal  family,  and  by  almost  the 
whole  nation  of  F ranks. 

Clovis,  being  then  the  only  monarch  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
religion,  was  particularly  honoured,  by  the  pope.  He  was 
considered  worthy  to  bear  the  title  of  the  Most  Christian ; 
by  which,  he  and  his  successors,  with  only  one  exception, 
have  ever  since  been  distinguished. 

The  result  of  the  several  conflicts,  maintained,  by  Clovis, 
with  the  Burgundians,  was  of  less  importance,  than  his  war 
with  Alaric,  king  of  the  Visigoths.  This  was  one  of  the 
most  glorious  of  all  his  expeditions,  made  the  greatest  altera- 
tion in  Gaul,  and  enabled  him  to  extend,  still  further,  the 
boundaries  of  his  dominions. 

Alaric  ascended  the  throne  of  the  Visigoths,  about  the 
same  time  that  Clovis  began  to  reign  over  the  Franks. 
They  were  both  nearly  of  the  same  age;  but  the  incidents  of 
their  lives,  had,  till  then,  been  very  different.  Alaric  had 
found  a fertile  country  in  Gaul,  already  conquered  Clovis 
made  his  way,  to  his  kingdom,  by  the  sword.  The  one  had 
enjoyed  uninterrupted  peace;  the  other  had  always  been  en- 
gaged in  war.  Clovis  had  the  reputation  of  an  accomplished 
soldier,  successful  and  victorious,  in  all  his  undertakings; 
Alaric,  that  of  a wise  and  moderate  prince,  who,  when  the 
neighbouring  states  were  continually  harassed,  by  foreign  or 
domestic  wars,  preserved  his  own  kingdom,  from  being  dis- 
turbed by  the  din  of  arms. 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


15 


„ It  was  discovered,  that  Alaric  was  forming  an  offen- 

5U' ’ sive  league,  with  Theoderic  ; and  making  clandestine 
preparations  to  surprise  Clovis,  while  he  amused  him  with 
the  appearance  of  perfect  friendship.  But  Clovis  was  soon 
aware  of  this  design.  He  not  only  stood  upon  his  guard, 
but  was  first  ready  to  take  the  field.  He  entered  Poictou, 
at  the  head  of  an  army,  and  met  Alaric  on  the  plain  of 
Vouille. 

At  the  first  onset,  the  Visigoths  were  driven  back:  but 
an  accident  occurred,  which,  for  some  moments,  held  the 
issue  in  suspense.  The  two  kings,  who  rode  along  the 
ranks,  to  encourage  their  men,  encountered  each  other,  in 
the  midst  of  the  field  of  battle.  Every  eye  was  turned 
towards  the  interesting  scene.  Every  sound  was  hushed, 
save  the  clashing  of  the  royal  arms.  Both  sides  stood  still, 
waiting  the  event  of  a single  combat,  that  was,  in  all  ap- 
pearance, to  decide  the  fate  of  the  two  nations.  They  made 
many  pushes  at  each  other,  and  many  blows  were  given,  by 
each  prince,  which  they  warded  off  with  their  shields 5 but, 
at  length,  Clovis  dismounted  his  antagonist,  and  gave  him, 
at  the  same  time,  a stroke,  of  which  he  quickly  died. 

It  was  not  difficult,  to  complete  the  overthrow  of  an  army, 
that  had  already  begun  to  turn  their  backs.  The  Visigoths, 
after  this  defeat,  were  able  to  preserve  only  a small  part  of 
the  territory  possessed  by  them,  in  Gaul.  Clovis  detached 
a numerous  body  of  troops,  under  his  son  Theoderic  (or 
Thierry) ; who,  treading  in  his  father’s  steps,  signalized  him- 
self by  the  conquest  of  Albi,  Roiiergue,  and  Auvergne; 
and  of  nearly  all  the  places  held  by  the  Visigoths,  on  that 
side,  as  far  as  the  frontiers  of  Burgundy;  and,  at  the  same 
time,  Clovis  himself  brought  under  obedience,  Touraine, 
Poictou,  Limosin,  Perigord,  Xaintogne,  and  Angoumois; 
carried  his  conquests  into  Armorica  or  Brittany;  compelled 
the  kings  of  the  latter  country  to  relinquish  the  royal  title, 
for  that  of  duke;  and  finished  the  campaign,  with  the  taking 
of  Bourdeaux. 

Clovis  was  not  yet  satiated  with  conquest.  He 
availed  himself  of  the  favourable  tide  in  his  affairs. 
In  the  ensuing  spring,  he  began  with  the  siege  of  Toulouse, 
the  capital  of  the  Visigoths;  which  having  reduced,  he  there 
found  the  treasures  of  Alaric.  Thence,  he  proceeded  to 
Tours,  as  well  with  the  design  of  performing  his  devotions 
in  the  church  of  St.  Martin,  as  of  receiving  ambassadors, 


16 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


sent  to  him,  by  Anastasius,  emperor  of  the  East;  and,  after 
these  ceremonies,  he  went  to  Paris,  which,  in  the  same 
year,  he  fixed  as  the  capital  of  his  kingdom. 

Paris,  named,  by  Julius  Caesar,  Lutetia,  was,  in  his  time, 
comprised  within  the  narrow  limits  of  that  island  in  the 
Seine,  now  called  the  Island  of  Notre  Dame;  and  did  not 
cover  one-twentieth  of  the  area  of  the  present  city. 

To  atone  for  some  enormities,  of  which  Clovis,  in  com- 
mon with  nearly  all  the  sovereigns  of  that  age,  had  been 
guilty,  he  founded  monasteries,  and  erected  churches;  the 
most  efficient  mode,  according  to  the  superstitious  practice, 
then  encouraged,  by  the  Roman  clergy,  of  obtaining  forgive- 
ness,  for  every  crime.  He  also  assembled,  at  Or- 
leans, a council  of  bishops,  the  first  held  in  Gaul, 
under  the  dominion  of  the  Franks. 

This  is  the  last  act,  of  importance,  recorded  of  this  fa- 
mous prince.  In  the  month  of  November,  in  the  same  year, 
he  died,  at  Paris,  in  the  forty-fifth  year  of  his  age,  and  thir- 
tieth of  his  reign. 

Clovis  signalized  himself  more,  by  his  valour  and  his 
conquests,  than  any  other  sovereign  of  his  time.  The  de- 
sign of  becoming  sole  and  absolute  monarch  of  all  Gaul, 
was  his  ruling  passion.  Could  he  have  moderated  this  de- 
sire, his  reputation  had  been  more  illustrious,  and  the  last 
years  of  his  life,  more  innocent;  nor  should  we  have  blamed 
in  Clovis,  the  Christian,  such  cruelties,  as  are  opposite  to 
the  soft  and  humane  disposition,  for  which  he  was  admired, 
when  a Heathen. 

The  kings  of  the  Franks  were  invested  with  high  au- 
thority; but  were,  at  the  same  time,  restrained  by  laws, 
which  they  did  not  dare  to  violate.  After  having  gained 
the  victory  ever  Syagrius,  the  Roman  general,  at  Soissons, 
Clovis  wished  to  present,  to  a bishop,  a superb  vase,  which 
had  been  taken  in  the  pillage  of  the  town;  but,  one  of  the 
Franks,  a soldier  of  a fierce  and  independent  spirit,  struck 
the  vase,  with  his  battle-axe;  declaring,  with  ferocity,  that 
the  plunder  must  be  shared,  by  lot,  and  that  the  king  him- 
self nad  no  better  right. 

The  death  of  Clovis  was  a severe  blow  to  the  grandeur 
cf  the  French  monarchy.  He  left  four  sons;  who  divided 
his  extensive  dominions  amongst  them.  Thierry,  the  eld- 
est, had  the  largest  share.  He  was  king  of  Austrasia; 
which  comprehended  not  only  the  north-eastern  part  of 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


17 


France,  but  also  the  German  conquests  of  his  father.  His 
seat  of  government,  was  Metz.  The  other  three  kingdoms 
took  the  name  of  their  respective  capitals.  Clodomir  was 

kino-  of  Orleans 5 Childebert,  of  Pans;  and  Clotaire,  ot 
> © 

Soissons.  _ , i r 

This  division  of  the  empire,  not  only  weakened  its  torce, 
but  caused  also  most  deplorable  quarrels.  The  brothers 
became  enemies,  whenever  their  interests  jarred.  I he 
most  dreadful  barbarities  were  the.  consequence  ot  these 
dissensions;  and,  mean  while,  a new  and  unexpected  enemy 
arose.  An  army  of  Danish  pirates,  entered  the 
Meuse,  and  ravaged  the  country,  between  this  river 
and  the  Rhine.  Thierry  sent  against  them  his  son  Theo- 
debert,  then  about  eighteen  years  old,  witn  a fleet  and  a 
land-force.  The  enterprise  was  happily  conducted,  lhis 
youno-  prince,  who  afterwards  became  formidable  to  the 
most'powerful  enemies  of  France,  defeated  the  Danes,  both 
by  land  and  sea,  took  many  prisoners,  and  seized  upon  all 
their  spoil. 

„ Sigismond,  the  son  and  successor  ot  Gondebald,  king 
of  Burgundy,  having  been  defeated,  in  battle,  by  the 
Franks,  and  fallen  into  the  hands  of  his  nephew,  Clodomir, 
was  carried  prisoner  to  Orleans,  together  with  his  queen, 
and  his  two  sons.  But  Godemar,  the  brother  of  Sigismond, 
soon  raised  another  army,  and  recovered,  in  a few  days,  all 
that  the  Franks  had  taken.  This  reverse  did  not  dishearten 
Clodomir,  who  resolved  to  continue  the  war.  Fearing, 
however,  that  Sigismond,  with  his  wife  and  children,  might, 
in  his  absence,  escape,  the  ties  of  consanguinity  were  rent 
asunder,  and  he  put  them  to  death,  by  a mode,  then  not 
unusual  in  France — throwing  them  into  a well. 

The  two  armies  joined  at  Veseronce,  not  far  from  the 
Rhone  and  the  town  of  Vienne.  Godemar  was  defeated 
here,  also;  but  escaped.  The  defeat,  however,  was  fatal 
to  the  victor.  Clodomir,  in  the  heat  of  pursuit,  was  car- 
ried, by  his  horse,  into  the  midst  of  the  enemy;  and,  being 
discovered,  by  his  long  hair,  was  slain.  Godemar,  having 
taken  off  his  head,  stuck  it  upon  the  point  of  a lance;  and 
then,  rallying  some  battalions,  retook  the  field;  hoping  that 
the  loss  of  their  king,  would  induce  the  Franks  to  lay  down 
their  arms.  But  tne  event  was  otherwise.  Animated  by 
a desire  of  revenging  the  death  of  their  victorious  chief, 
their  courage  was  changed  to  fury;  and,  falling  upon  the 
b 2 


18 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


Burgundians,  they  cut  them  to  pieces,  and  left  not  their  ill- 
fated  country,  until  they  had  entirely  laid  it  waste. 

^22  The  beginning  of  this  year,  was  marked  by  a most 
cruel  and  barbarous  act.  Childebert  and  Clotaire  per- 
suaded their  mother,  Clotilda,  to  bring  to  Paris  the  three 
sons  of  their  deceased  brother,  Clodomir,  under  a pretence 
of  putting  them  into  possession  of  their  father’s  kingdom; 
but,  in  reality,  with  a design  of  murdering  them.  Clotaire 
stabbed  two  of  them,  with  his  own  hand;  Clodoalde  was 
conveyed  away,  out  of  his  reach,  received  the  tonsure,  and 
became  a monk. 

The  church  and  village  of  St.  Cloud,  are  named  after 
Clodoalde;  and  in  the  former,  he  was  interred. 

On  the  death  of  Thierry,  king  of  Austrasia,  his  son 
Theodebert  was  declared  his  successor.  The  king  of  Bur- 
gundy was  unable  to  withstand  the  powerful  alliance  now 
formed  against  him,  by  the  two  uncles  and  the  nephew. 
After  the  loss  of  a battle,  he  was  forced  to  yield,  was  taken, 
and  imprisoned  in  a castle,  where  he  ended  his  days. 

Thus,  the  kingdom  of  Burgundy  was  united  to  France, 
about  one  hundred  years  after  its  foundation,  and  the  three 
kings  divided  it  amongst  them. 

By  the  death  of  his  two  brothers  and  his  nephew, 
Clotaire  became  sole  monarch  of  the  French  empire. 
But  he  enjoyed  this  great  accession  of  power,  only  for  a 
short  time.  When  hunting,  in  the  forest  of  Cuise,  he  was 
seized  with  a fever;  and,  having  been  carried  to  Compeigne 
(at  that  time,  only  a pleasure-house)  he  died,  there,  in  the 
sixty-fourth  year  of  his  age,  and  the  fifty-first  of  his  reign; 
exclaiming,  with  his  latest  breath,  “ How  great, 
must  that  King  of  Heaven  be,  who  destroys,  when 
he  pleases,  the  greatest  kings  on  earth!” 

Clotaire  was  a crafty  and  cruel  prince;  having  scarcely 
any  good  qualities,  except  valour,  intrepidity,  and  a talent 
for  war;  which  were  inherited,  in  common,  by  all  the  male 
children  of  Clovis. 

He  left  four  sons — Chilperic,  Charibert,  Gontran,  and 
Sigebert. 

The  experience  of  the  evils  arising  from  the  division  of 
the  French  monarchy,  amongst  the  sons  of  Clovis,  did  not 
prevent  a similar  partition,  after  the  death  of  Clotaire.  His 
four  sons  apportioned  the  four  kingdoms  amongst  them,  by 
lot.  The  fungdom  of  Paris  fell  to  Charibert;  Soissons,  to 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


19 


Chilperic;  Austrasia,  to  Sigebert;  and  Orleans,  to  Gontran; 
in  whose  lot,  was  also  included  the  Burgundian  reaim ; 
which  had  been  conquered  by  the  united  forces  of  Child  e- 
bert  and  Clotaire. 

This  new  division  was  followed  by  consequences,  still 
more  fatal,  than  the  former. 

Brunehaud,  princess  of  Spain,  wife  of  Sigebert,  and  Fre- 
degonda,  wife  of  Chilperic — two  queens,  who  might  be 
called  furies,  rather  than  women — sacrificed  every  thing  to 
their  ambition.  Their  mutual  hatred,  conjoined  with  their 
influence  over  their  husbands,  produced  a series  of  crimes, 
alike  ruinous  to  the  royal  family,  and  the  people. 

Two  kings,  and  several  princes  of  the  royal  blood,  were, 
by  their  means,  murdered. 

Chilperic  being  besieged,  in  Tournay,  by  Sigebert, 

Dm  without  any  hope,  either  of  relief,  or  escape,  his  queen, 
Fredegonda,  sent,  to  the  latter,  two  resolute  assassins,  in 
the  peaceful  character  of  negotiators;  who,  under  a pretence 
of  proposing  an  accommodation,  stabbed  him,  through  the 
heart. 

The  face  of  affairs  was,  by  this  event,  in  a moment  changed. 
The  siege  of  Tournay  was  quickly  raised.  Fredegonda  des- 
patched a messenger  to  Paris,  to  inform  those  of  her  faction, 
there,  of  what  had  happened,  and  ordered  them  to  seize 
upon  the  queen  of  Austrasia,  the  widow  of  Sigebert;  who, 
with  her  children,  had  come  to  that  capital,  to  meet  her 
husband.  Brunehaud  and  her  children  were  taken  into  cus- 
tody. This  was  Chilperic’s  shortest  way  to  become  master 
of  Austrasia.  Treachery  and  murder  seemed,  for  a while 
triumphant.  But  he  was  defeated  in  this  criminal  attempt. 
Gondebaud,  one  of  the  generals  of  the  Austrasian  army, 
having  bribed  or  overreached  the  guards,  let  down  the  young 
prince,  Childebert,  in  a sack,  through  a window,  and  carried 
him  to  Metz;  where  he  was  placed  upon  his  father’s  throne. 

In  the  summer  of  this  year,  Chilperic,  king  of  Sois- 
sons,  died,  by  the  hand  of  an  assassin,  supposed  to 
have  been  employed  by  his  own  queen  Fredegonda. 
gig  After  the  murder  of  many  other  princes,  and  many 
years  of  civil  war,  carried  on  with  a most  vindictive 
spirit,  Clotaire  II.,  son  of  Chilperic  and  Fredegonda,  became 
sole  monarch  of  France. 

Fredegonda  was  allowed  to  die,  by  the  hand  of  nature; 
but  her  rival  in  atrocity,  Brunehaud,  was  put  to  death,  in  a 


20 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


manner  corresponding  with  the  cruelties  committed,  by  her, 
upon  others.  Having  reproached  her,  besides  other  crimes, 
with  the  murder  of  ten  princes,  Clotaire  delivered  her  to 
the  executioner;  who,  for  three  successive  days,  inflicted 
upon  her  every  species  of  torture.  After  this,  she  was 
placed  upon  a camel,  and  compelled  to  ride  through  all  the 
camp,  where  the  soldiers  offered  her  a thousand  insults; 
and  at  length  one  of  her  feet  and  an  arm  were  tied  to  the 
tail  of  a wild  horse;  which,  dragging  her  around  the  camp, 
tore  her  tQ  pieces:  and  thus  ended  her  dreadful  punish- 
ment. Her  body  was  then  thrown  into  a fire,  and  burned  to 
ashes. 

The  tortures  inflicted  upon  Brunehaud,  are  shocking  to 
humanity,  at  this  enlightened  period  of  the  Christian  world; 
yet,  Clotaire,  by  whom  they  were  directed,  was  of  a dispo- 
sition widely  different  from  that  of  his  atrocious  parent.  He 
re-established  tranquillity,  gained  the  hearts  of  his  people, 
oy  his  justice  and  generosity,  and  attached  the  nobles  to 
him,  by  augmenting  their  importance. 

He  committed  the  government  of  Austrasia  and  Burgundy, 
to  officers,  called  Mayors  of  the  Palace;  a sort  of  viceroys; 
who,  daily  acquiring  power,  at  length  made  their  way  to 
the  throne. 

The  office  of  mayor  of  the  palace,  was  originally  confined 
to  the  direction  of  the  king’s  household:  the  mayors,  after- 
wards, became  the  first  ministers  of  state,  and,  at  length, 
commanders-in-chief  of  the  armies;  and  assumed  the  title  of 
duke  of  the  French,  or,  sometimes,  that  of  viceroy.  At 
first,  they  were  subject  to  removal,  at  the  king’s  pleasure: 
they  had  afterwards  the  address  to  secure  their  office  for 
life,  and,  in  the  course  of  time,  to  render  it  hereditary,  and 
transmit  it  to  their  sons. 

The  vices  of  Dagobert,  the  son  of  Clotaire;  (in 
whose  person,  the  whole  French  monarchy,  on  the 
death  of  his  brother  Charibert,  was  a fourth  time  united 
under  one  king;)  the  taxes  with  which  he  loaded  the  people, 
to  furnish  his  debauches,  or  to  enrich  the  church,  in  order 
to  atone  for  them;  weakened  the  royal  authority,  at  the  same 
time  that  they  debased  it. 

He  founded  the  abbey  of  St.  Dennis,  so  long  famous  for 
being  the  burial-place  of  the  kings  of  France;  and  bequeathed 
eight  thousand  pounds  weight  of  lead  to  cover  it;  which  was 
his  last  attempt  to  bribe  Heaven  to  forgive  his  sins. 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


21 


His  two  sons,  SigebertIL  and  Clovis  II.,  were  only 
the  founders  of  monasteries.  They  were  ciphers  in 
their  kingdom : the  actual  sovereigns  were  the  mayors. 

On  the  death  of  Sigebert,  Grimoalde,  mayor  of 
0 # Austrasia,  placed  his  own  son,  Childebert,  upon  the 
throne  of  that  kingdom.  The  usurper  was  deposed:  but  the 
seductive  example  remained,  as  a lure,  to  future  ambition. 

The  succeeding  princes,  Clotaire  III.,  Childeric,  and 
Thierry,  sons  of  Clovis  II.,  were  as  weak  as  their  predeces- 
sor. They  were  no  more  than  decorated  pageants,  occa- 
sionally shown  to  the  people. 

ggg  Clotaire  having  died,  Thierry  was  seized,  by  his 
surviving  brother,  and  forced  to  retire  to  the  abbey 
of  St.  Dennis.  But  Childeric  did  not  long  enjoy  the  sole 
government,  which  he  had  thus  violently  usurped.  He  was 
naturally  of  a hasty  temper;  and,  being  one  day  angry  with 
a certain  lord,  named  Bodillon,  ordered  him  to  be  tied  to  a 
post,  and  receive  a thousand  blows.  Exasperated  at  such 
degrading  treatment,  the  insulted  noble  conspired  against 
him,  formed  an  ambuscade  in  a forest,  where  Childeric, 
with  his  queen,  and  one  of  his  children,  was  slain. 

Such,  is  the  consequence  of  haughty  insult,  followed  by 
revenge;  by  which,  the  innocent  too  often  suffer  with  the 
guilty;  and  thus,  has  another  horrid  scene  been  added  to  the 
frightful  picture  of  those  savage  times. 

After  the  death  of  Pepin  d’Heristal,  duke  of  Aus- 
trasia— who,  by  restoring  national  assemblies,  which 
the  disposition  of  former  monarchs  had  abolished;  by  turning 
the  restless  impetuosity  of  the  French  against  foreign  ene- 
mies; and  by  other  wise  measures,  had,  as  mayor  of  the 
palace,  quietly  enjoyed  the  supreme  power,  in  France, 
during  twenty-eight  years — his  authority  passed  into  the 
hands  of  his  widow,  Plectrude;  whose  grandson,  Theodebaid, 
yet  an  infant,  was  created  mayor. 

Though,  however,  the  insignificant  kings  were  contented 
to  live  under  the  guardianship  of  a child,  the  government  of 
a woman  was  ill  suited  to  those  turbulent  times. 

Charles  Martel,  a natural  son  of  Pepin,  was  suspected  of 
ambitious  views,  by  Plectrude,  and  immediately  imprisoned. 
But  his  confinement  was  of  only  short  duration.  He  soon 
found  means  to  escape,  was  received,  by  the  Austrasians, 
with  open  arms;  and  his  superior  talents  soon  exalted  him  tc 
the  same  degree  of  power,  that  had  been  enjoyed  by  his  father 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


^10  Now  master  of  France,  he  directed  his  attention 
principally  to  two  objects:  the  first  was,  to  reduce  the 
German  nations,  that  had  shaken  off  the  yoke  of  France;  the 
second,  to  send  missionaries  to  instruct  the  same  people,  and 
the  other  nations  that  had  been  subdued  by  this  empire,  and 
had  not  yet  embraced  the  Christian  faith.  He  attacked  the 
Saxons,  again  imposed  upon  them  a tribute;  reconquered  all 
the  country,  as  far  as  the  Weser;  some  time  afterwards, 
caused  the  Allemanni  to  know  his  strength,  and  carried  his 
arms  as  far  as  the  other  side  of  the  Danube. 

^2 1 ®y  a signal  victory,  he  saved  France  from  the  sword 

* * of  the  Saracens,  who  had  already  subjected  Spain. 
This  people,  the  conquerors  of  the  East  and  of  Africa,  had 
been  invited  into  Spain,  in  the  year  714,  by  count  Julian; 
from  a wish  to  revenge  himself  on  Rodrigue,  king  of  the 
Visigoths,  who  had  repudiated  his  daughter.  At  an  inter- 
view with  Emir  Mirza,  lieutenant  to  Valid,  caliph  of  the 
Saracens,  he  offered  him  his  country,  on  condition  of  re- 
ceiving immediate  succour.  They  accordingly  entered  the 
dominions  of  Rodrigue,  and  committed  most  dreadful  devas- 
tations. The  king  of  the  Visigoths  was  overcome;  and  was 
afterwards  slain,  in  the  pursuit.  This  victory  decided  the 
fate  of  the  empire.  The  kingdom  of  the  Visigoths,  which 
had  existed  for  more  than  three  centuries,  in  Spain,  was 
extinguished,  and  the  nation  almost  totally  destroyed.  A 
small  part,  indeed,  took  refuge  in  the  mountains  of  the 
Asturias,  of  Gallicia,  and  of  Biscay;  where  they  founded  a 
new  monarchy,  under  the  conduct  of  Pelagus;  from  whom, 
the  kings  of  Castile  are  descended.  Some  of  them  retired 
into  France;  and  those  who  submitted  to  the  Moors,  pre- 
served their  religion,  under  the  name  of  Mozarabian  Chris- 
tians. 

Between  Poictiers  and  Tours,  Charles  encountered  an 
immense  army  of  that  nation,  commanded  by  Abderame,  a 
soldier  of  high  reputation;  where,  it  is  said,  three-hundred- 
thousand  of  their  number,  together  with  their  general, 
perished  on  the  field.  It  was  upon  this  occasion,  some  his- 
torians relate,  that  Charles  received  the  surname  of  Martel; 
because  he  had  so  successfully  used,  against  the  Saracens,  a 
kind  of  heavy  weapon,  called  marl  el,  which  signifies,  in 
English,  a maul,  or  hammer. 

By  his  wise  administration,  he  kept  all  the  neighbouring 
nations  in  awe;  yet  he  would  assume  no  higher  title,  than 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


that  of  duke  of  France;  conscious  that  the  title  of  king, 
could  add  nothing  to  his  power. 

r41  Charles  Martel  died  in  the  fiftieth  year  of  his  age; 
' * and,  in  the  same  year,  died  also  Leo  Isaurius,  emperor 

of  the  East,  and  Pope  Gregory  III.  Charles  was  buried 
at  St.  Dennis.  The  ancient  historians  describe  him  as  a 
great  man,  a great  prince,  a great  soldier,  and  a great 
statesman. 

Although  his  victories  over  the  Saracens,  most  probably 
saved  Europe  from  the  impending  yoke  of  Mahomet,  yet 
has  his  character  been  impeached,  by  the  legends  of  the 
monks;  who,  resenting  the  freedom  with  which  he  applied 
the  revenues  of  the  church,  to  the  defence  of  the  Christian 
religion,  have  not  scrupled  to  enrol  him  amongst  the  damned. 
In  a letter,  addressed  to  Louis,  the  grandson  of  Charle- 
magne, it  is  asserted,  that,  on  opening  the  tomb  of  Charles 
Martel,  the  spectators  were  affrighted  by  the  smell  of  fire, 
and  the  appearance  of  a horrid  dragon;  and  that  a saint  of 
those  times  was  indulged  with  a vision  of  the  soul  and 
body  of  the  founder  of  the  Carlovingian  race,  burning  in  the 
abyss  of  hell ! 

Bj  his  first  wife,  Charles  had  two  sons,  Carloman  and 
Pepm;  between  whom,  some  time  before  his  death,  he  di- 
vided the  state  which  he  had  governed  with  so  much  glory. 
^ - But,  amidst  a most  victorious  career,  against  the 
northern  enemies  of  the  nation,  Carloman  embraced 
a measure,  which  surprised  all  France.  He  renounced  his 
government,  and  entered  upon  a religious  life ; exchang- 
ing the  exciting  bustle  of  a court,  for  the  dull  inactivity  of 
a monastic  cell.  He  retired  to  Mount  Soracte,  now  called 
the  mount  of  St.  Sylvester;  where  he  built  a monastery: 
and  afterwards  he  went  to  Mount  Cassin;  where  he  dis- 
tinguished himself  as  much  by  his  sanctity,  in  private,  as 
he  had,  before,  by  his  prudence  and  valiant  conduct  in 
public. 

Pecuniary  fines  were  almost  the  only  punishments,  known 
in  those  days.  Scarcely  any  other  crimes  than  those 
which  affected  the  state,  were  punished  with  death.  The 
Salique  law,  (supposed  to  have  been  compiled  by  Phara- 
mond)  fixes  the  sums  to  be  paid,  to  the  king,  by  way  of 
fine,  and  to  the  party  injured,  by  wav  of  reparation.  The 
life  of  a bishop  was  valued  at  nine-hundred  sols  of  gold; 
(each  sol  being  about  twelve  shillings  and  sixpence  ster- 


24 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


ling;)  that  of  a priest,  at  six-hundred;  and  that  of  a layman, 
at  something  less.  If  the  assassin  were  insolvent,  his  re- 
lations, to  a certain  degree,  were  compelled  to  pay  for  him; 
and,  if  they  were  unable,  he  became  a slave  to  the  family 
of  the  deceased.  The  court  sent  commissioners,  at  stated 
times,  into  the  provinces,  to  hear  complaints,  and  report 
them  to  the  king;  and  sometimes  the  monarch  administered 
justice  himself ; on  which  occasions,  the  court  was  held  at 
his  palace-gate. 

It  may  not  be  unprofitable,  to  inquire  in  this  place,  what 
is  the  origin  of  the  Salique  law;  the  most  remarkable 
feature  of  which,  is,  that  females,  and  even  all  males  de- 
riving their  title  through  females,  are  excluded  from  the 
throne  of  France. — “ While  the  Franks,”  says  the  baron 
Montesquieu,  “lived  in  their  own  country,  their  whole 
stock  consisted  of  slaves,  herds  of  cattle,  horses,  accou- 
trements, and  arms.  Lands  for  cultivation  were  assigned 
to  them,  by  the  state,  for  a year  only,  and,  after  that  time, 
were  resumed  by  the  public.  What,  then,  were  the  lands, 
to  which  the  male  issue  succeeded  ? Every  hut  or  cabin 
had  a precinct  of  ground;  and  that  was  the  estate  which 
descended  to  the  sons,  or  went  in  the  male  line.  It  was 
called  Salique  land,  because  the  mansion  of  a German  was 
called  £«/,  and  the  space  enclosing  it,  Salhac , the  home- 
stead. When  the  Franks  gained  possessions  in  Gaul,  they 
still  continued  to  give,  to  their  new  settlements,  the  name 
of  Salique  land;  and  hence,  the  law  of  the  Franks,  which 
regulated  the  course  of  descent,  was  called  the  Salique 
Law. 

Regular  troops  were,  at  this  period,  unknown : each 
province  had  its  militia ; and  those  were  generally  com- 
manded to  march,  that  were  nearest  to  the  scene  of  action. 
It  does  not  appear  that  the  soldiers  had  any  pay : their  sole 
reward  consisted  in  the  booty  which  they  seized.  The 
prisoners  were  condemned  to  slavery;  and  hostages  expe- 
rienced the  same  fate,  when  those  who  gave  them  failed  to 
perform  their  engagements. 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


ts 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE  SECOND,  OR  CARLOVINGIAN  RACE  OF  KINGS. 


CHARLEMAGNE. 

B rom  the  accession  of  Pepin,  to  the  death  of  br'  Ir0 ' 
race  of  kin*" 


the  last  of  tile  second 


A.  D- 


,0—987". 


r oarloman,  within  the  walls  of  a clois- 
1 he  re  .iremenXjn  (surnamed  the  Short,  and  also  the 
y him  from  his  grandfather,  of  the 

Y ounger^  S(qe  governor  of  the  kingdom,  he  at  length  as- 
sai*^  the  sovereignty,  in  name,  as  well  as  in  reality;  and 
samded,  for  ever,  the  descendants  of  Clovis,  or  the  Mero- 
vingian race,  from  the  throne  of  France. 

It  had,  for  some  time,  been  openly  affirmed,  that  Pepin 
deserved  to  be  a king;  and  he  was  so,  in  effect,  though 
another  possessed  the  title ; but  it  had  always  been  es- 
teemed  a crime,  to  deprive  him  of  it.  To  remove 
this  obstacle,  which  had  stood  in  the  way  of  all  his 
predecessors,  he  thought  that  a service  could  be  rendered, 
by  the  interposition  of  the  pope.  Pepin  had  contracted  an 
intimate  friendship  with  Zachary,  then  in  the  chair  of  St. 
Peter;  he  consulted  him  upon  all  important  questions  of 
ecclesiastical  discipline,  with  regard  to  the  bishops  and 
priests,  monks  and  nuns;  and  caused  to  be  read  in  council, 
fiis  answers;  which  were  always  followed  with  respect. 
The  pope  found  it  his  interest,  to  be  on  friendly  terms  with 
Pepin.  On  the  point  of  being  overwhelmed  by  the  Lom- 
bards, and  hated  by  the  emperor,  Constantius  Copro- 
nymus,  as  great  an  Iconoclast,  or  image-breaker,  as  his 
father,  Isaurius,  he  had  no  other  dependence,  except  on 
France.  Pepin  was  not  ignorant  of  this;  and  discovered 
to  him  the  design  he  had  formed,  of  causing  himself  to  be 
declared  king.  The  danger  in  which  Rome  then  was,  $f 
sinking  under  the  power  of  the  Lombards;  the  outrage  of 
the  emperor  of  Constantinople,  against  the  catholic  religion; 
the  Saracens  being  masters  of  Spain;  the  German  churches 
being,  on  all  sides,  exposed  to  the  incursions  of  the  neigh- 
bouring nations,  who  were  pagans;  the  power  and  reputa- 
tion of  Pepin,  who,  only,  was  able  to  avert  so  many  evils 
with  which  the  church  was  threatened;  the  fatal  consequen- 
C 


26 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


ce3  of  his  resentment,  and  the  many  advantages  that  would 
result  from  a good  understanding  between  him  and  the  holy 
see:  the  little  injury  which  would  thereby  be  done  to  a 
king  Ho  was  not  worthy  of  that  title;  and  to  a family, 
wio,  or  c*  hundred  years,  had  possessed  nothing  but  the 
broughtWm  oyer  ^^^^sideradons  moved  the  pope,  and 
opinion,  that,  in  the  existing  , , *' r1",',. . ® gave  1 , as  his 

possessed  the  authority,  mightaj?  0 ,a  t1'1?.’  16  P8is°r>  who 
1 Pepin  made  a judicious  use  of  & it  the  name  of  king 
swer.  He  called  an  assembly  of  the  ftccommodatmg  an- 
where  they  confirmed  all  those  reasons  insA a^.  Poissons; 
he  was,  accordingly,  with  his  wife,  Bertrude, 


the  throne. 


upon 


Childeric  (the  third  of  that  name,  whose  father  n,  x + 
certainly  known)  was  soon  deprived  even  of  the  semblance 
of  royal  power.  Having  been  first  shaved — after  this  de- 
gradation, he  was  carried  to  the  monastery  of  Sithien,  now 
the  abbey  of  St.  Bertin,  at  St.  Omer’s;  where  he  was  admit- 
ted as  a monk,  and  a few  years  afterwards,  died. 

He  had  a son  named  Thierry,  who  also  closed  his  days 
within  the  monastic  walls;  and  thus  ended  the  race  of  Clovis 
and  Meroveus;  after  they  had  reigned  two-hundred-and-sixty- 
five  years,  in  Gaul. 

Other  incidents  occurred,  to  increase  the  importance  of 
the  new  king.  Astolphus,  king  of  the  Lombards,  had,  for 
some  time,  threatened  Rome.  He  had  lately  taken  Ra- 
venna, from  the  exarch,  Euty chius;  and,  as  the  authority 
of  the  exarchs  of  Ravenna,  had  always  extended  over  the 
city  of  Rome,  Astolphus  pretended,  that,  being  master  of 
that  city,  Rome,  also,  should  be  subject  to  him,  and  ac- 
knowledge him  as  king.  Refused  assistance  by  the  empe- 
ror of  Constantinople,  and  seeing  no  prospect  of  an  accom- 
modation, Stephen  III.,  the  successor  of  Zachary,  in  the 
pontifical  chair,  had  recourse  to  the  king  of  France,  and 
came  for  sanctuary,  to  Pepin’s  court. 

The  pope  was  not  deceived  in  his  expectation. 

He  induced  Pepin  to  wage  war  with  the  king  of 
Lombardy;  but,  while  France  was  making  preparation  for 
the  contest,  Pepin,  who  seldom  failed  to  profit  by  any  op- 
portunity, was  of  opinion  that  some  advantage  might  be 
reaped  from  the  influence  of  the  pope’s  presence,  upon  the 
minds  of  the  French.  He  had  been  consecrated  king,  by 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


27 


St.  Boniface,  bishop  of  Mayence;  but  was  desirous  of 
having  the  ceremony  performed,  again,  by  the  father  of  the 
church;  who  readily  consented.  Queen  Bertrude,  and  the 
two  princes,  Charles  and  Carloman,  also,  received  the 
royal  unction,  from  the  hands  of  Stephen;  who  exhorted 
and  conjured  the  French  nobles,  in  the  name  of  St.  Peter, 
to  maintain  the  crown  in  the  family  of  Pepin. 

Pepin,  on  his  part,  made  a solemn  promise  to  the  pope, 
as  did  also  his  two  sons,  to  protect  the  holy  see.  This  en 
gagement,  he  honourably  fulfilled.  In  the  following  year, 
he  led  an  army  across  the  Alps;  defeated  Astolphus,  in  a 
sanguinary  battle;  compelled  him  to  cede  Ravenna,  and 
many  other  places,  to  himself ; and,  as  the  exarchate,  by 
this  means,  became  his  conquest,  he  made  a grant  of  it  to 
the  pope  and  the  Roman  church,  and  sent  the  keys  of  the 
ceded  towns  to  Rome;  where  they  were  deposited  upon  the 
tomb  of  St.  Peter,  to  put  him,  and  all  his  successors,  in 
symbolical  possession. 

This  is  the  origin  of  the  temporal  power  of  the  popes. 

The  conquest  of  Aquitaine  was  the  last  exploit  of  Pepin. 
He  was  seized  with  a fever,  at  Xaintes;  and,  after  he  had 
lain  some  days,  he  caused  himself  to  be  carried  to  the  tomb 
of  St.  Martin,  and  thence  to  St.  Dennis;  where  he  died, 
of  a dropsy,  at  the  age  of  fifty  four,  in  the  seven- 
teenth year  of  his  reign,  and  twentieth  of  his  go- 
vernment. 

None  of  Pepin’s  predecessors,  on  the  throne  of  France, 
was  ecjual  to  him,  in  courage,  prudence,  and  success,  and 
all  the  great  qualities  that  concur,  to  form  an  accomplished 
prince.  Of  the  various  modes,  that  serve  to  raise  a man 
to  a throne,  who  had  not  been  placed  there  by  his  birth, 
he  made  choice  of  the  least  odious.*  He  shed  no  blood, 
either  in  ascending  to  it,  or  maintaining  himself  on  it;  and 
so  well  did  he  establish  his  authority,  that  during  his  whole 
reign,  there  is  no  mention  of  a revolt,  in  France. 

Pepin  acquired  the  surname  of  Short,  from  his  diminu- 
tive stature;  which  became  a subject  of  pleasantry,  to  some 
of  his  courtiers.  The  king,  being  informed  of  their  re- 
marks, determined  to  convince  them  of  their  error;  and, 
with  this  view,  he  caused  a combat  to  be  exhibited,  at  the 
abbey  of  Ferrieres,  between  a lion  and  a bull.  The  former 
having  thrown  down  his  adversary,  Pepin  turned  to  the 
noblemen  that  were  present,  and  asked,  which  of  them  had 


28 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


courage  to  separate  or  kill  the  furious  combatants.  The 
mere  proposal  made  them  shudder.  Not  one  of  them  re- 
plied. 64 1 will  do  it,  then,  myself,”  said  the  monarch,  calmly. 
He  accordingly  drew  his  sabre,  leaped  into  the  arena,  at- 
tacked and  killed  the  lion;  and  then,  turning  to  the  bull, 
aimed  so  severe  a blow  at  his  head,  that  he  separated  it  from 
his  body.  The  whole  court  were  astonished,  at  this  pro- 
digious exertion  of  strength  and  courage.  The  nobles,  who 
had  indulged  their  wit,  at  the  expense  of  the  king,  were 
confounded.  Pepin,  turning  towards  them,  exclaimed,  in  a 
lofty  tone — “ David  was  small;  but  he  overcame  the  proud 
giant,  who  had  dared  to  treat  him  with  contempt.” 

This  ferocious  kind  of  amusement,  was  common,  in 
those  times.  The  kings  not  only  exhibited  combats  of 
wild  beasts,  to  the  people,  but  frequently  indulged  them- 
selves in  this  favourite  sport,  within  the  precincts  of  the 
palace. 

The  French  government  was  now  divided  between 
Charles  and  Carloman,  the  two  eldest  sons  of  the  late 
king.  They  were  of  very  different  dispositions.  Charles  was 
open  and  generous;  Carloman,  dark  and  suspicious.  It 
was,  therefore,  happy  for  the  nation  that  the  latter  died 
soon  after  his  father;  as  intestine  wars  might  have  conti- 
nually resulted,  from  the  opposite  tempers,  and  jarring  in- 
terests, of  the  two  brothers. 

Now  alone,  at  the  head  of  a powerful  kingdom, 
/ * the  great  and  aspiring  genius  of  Charles,  (subse- 
quently entitled  Charlemagne , or  Charles  the  Great,)  soon 
gave  birth  to  projects,  that  will  render  his  name  immortal. 

But,  before  we  proceed  further,  in  the  history  of  this 
illustrious  reign,  we  must  take  a cursory  view  of  the  co- 
temporary state  of  Germany.  This  extensive  country  was 
formerly  possessed  by  a number  of  free  and  independent 
nations;  who  bravely  defended  themselves  against  the 
Romans,  and  were  never  totally  subjected  by  them.  On 
the  decline  of  the  Roman  empire,  many  of  these  nations, 
allured  by  the  climate  of  the  more  southern  regions,  emerged 
from  their  gloomy  forests,  and  founded  empires  or  princi- 
palities, in  other  parts;  so  that  Germany,  on  the  accession 
of  Charlemagne  to  the  crown  of  France,  was  occupied 
chiefly  by  the  Saxons.  They  were  as  yet  pagans.  YVhat 
was  then  considered  as  their  territory,  comprehended  a vast 
tract  of  country,  extending  from  Bohemia,  to  the  Baltic 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


and  German  Ocean.  This  spacious  empire  was  governed 
by  many  princes,  independent  of  each  others  and  inhabited 
by  various  tribes,  who  had  become  tributary  to  the  French 
crown.  But  this  kind  of  subjection  was  borne  by  them 
with  great  impatience.  At  any  time,  when  the  French 
throne  was  vacant,  or  the  kings  were  engaged  in  war,  the 
Saxon  princes  burst  the  fetters  which  had  bound  them,  and 
invaded  the  territories  of  France.  Charles  had  occasion 
to  quell  one  of  these  revolts,  immediately  after  the  death  of 
Carloman;  and  the  work  was  not  completed,  when  his  arms 
were  wanted  in  another  quarter. 

The  two  brothers  are  said  to  have  married  two  daughters 
of  Desiderius,  king  of  the  Lombards.  Charles  had  divorced 
his  consort,  because  she  had  borne  him  no  children;  and 
married  a Suabian  princess,  named  Hildegarda.  Bertha, 
the  widow  of  Carloman,  not  thinking  herself  and  children 
safe  in  France,  after  the  death  of  her  husband,  retired  into 
Italy,  and  implored  the  protection  of  her  father;  who  re- 
ceived her  and  her  family,  with  joy.  Highly  incensed 
against  Charles,  for  having  divorced  his  daughter,  Deside- 
rius hoped,  by  means  of'  these  refugees,  to  raise  such  dis- 
turbances in  France,  as  might  both  gratify  his  revenge,  and 
prevent  the  French  monarch  from  intermeddling  with  the 
affairs  of  Italy.  Enraged  at  the  refusal  of  pope  Adrian,  to 
crown  and  anoint  the  two  sons  of  Carloman,  he  ravaged  the 
papal  territories,  or,  as  they  were  called,  the  Patrimony 
of  St.  Peter;  and  threatened  to  besiege  even  Rome  itself. 
This  insult,  though  distressing  to  the  pope,  was  yet  fortu- 
nate for  Charlemagne.  Adrian  sent  ambassadors  to  Charles, 
not  only  to  entreat  his  aid,  but  to  invite  him  to  the  con- 
quest of  Italy.  The  French  monarch  did  not  reject  the  in- 
vitation. Having  arranged  a hasty  accommodation  with  the 
Saxons,  he  immediately  left  Germany;  crossed  the  Alps, 
by  an  unusual  route;  entered  Italy  unmolested;  forced 
Verona  to  surrender;  seized  Bertha  and  her  two  sons,  and 
sent  them,  under  a strong  guard,  into  France. 

Pavia,  the  capital  of  Desiderius,  soon  afterwards 
4 * shared  the  fate  of  Verona.  The  unfortunate  prince 

was  obliged  to  surrender  himself,  his  wife,  and  his  children, 
to  Charles;  who  sent  them  also  into  France;  and  thus, 
ended  the  kingdom  of  the  Lombards,  in  Italy,  after  having 
subsisted  two-nundred-and-six  years. 

Of  the  state  of  Italy,  at  that  time,  it  is  proper  that  w® 
c 2 


so 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


should  here  give  some  account.  It  was  then  held  by  the 
Venetians,  the  Lombards,  the  pope,  and  the  emperor  of  the 
East.  The  Venetians  had  become  very  considerable,  by 
their  trade  to  the  Levant;  and  exercised  no  small  degree 
of  sway  in  the  affairs  of  Italy;  though  they  had  a very  small 
portion  of  territory,  on  the  continent.  The  pope  was  mas- 
ter of  the  exarchate  and  Pentapolis.  The  dukedom  of 
Naples,  and  some  cities  in  the  two  Calabrian  provinces, 
were  ruled  by  the  emperor  of  the  East.  The  other  parts 
of  Italy — the  dukedom  of  Friuli,  Spoleto,  and  Benevento; 
together  with  the  provinces  of  Liguria,  Venetia,  Tuscany, 
and  the  Alpes  Cottise — were  called  the  kingdom  of  the 
Lombards.  The  latter,  Charles  now  claimed,  by  right  of 
conquest;  and  caused  himself,  in  imitation  of  the  Lombard 
princes,  to  be  crowned  king  of  Italy,  with  an  iron  crown; 
which  was  preserved  in  the  little  town  of  Moriga,  until 
lately  removed,  thence,  to  Paris,  by  a conqueror  of  still 
higher  reputation,  than  even  Charles  himself. 

Charles  committed  the  boundaries  of  his  new  kingdom, 
and  the  territories  of  cities,  to  the  care  of  counts;  who 
were  invested  with  great  authority.  These  boundaries 
were  called  marches , and  those  to  whom  the  care  of  them 
was  committed,  counts  of  the  marches,  or  marquises; 
whence,  the  title  of  marquis  is  derived. 

That  Italy  might  retain  at  least  some  shadow  of  liberty, 
he  convoked,  as  often  as  he  returned  to  that  country,  a 
general  assembly,  of  the  bishops,  abbots,  and  barons;  in 
order  to  settle  affairs  of  national  importance.  The  Lom- 
bards had  but  one  order,  in  their  council — that  of  the 
barons:  but,  as  the  French  had  two — the  clergy  and  the 
nobility — he  added,  in  Italy,  the  order  of  the  ecclesiastics, 
to  that  of  the  nobles. 

In  the  absence  of  Charlemagne,  the  Saxons  had  again 
revolted.  But,  a detail  of  his  wars,  with  that  barbarous, 
though  brave  people,  would  afford  little  pleasure,  to  a hu- 
manized mind.  After  a number  of  battles,  gallantly  fought, 
and  many  cruelties  committed,  on  both  sides,  during  a period 
of  more  than  thirty  years,  the  Saxons  were  totally  subjected, 
and  Germany  became  part  of  the  empire  of  Charlemagne. 

Of  the  several  forts  erected  by  that  people,  to  obstruct 
the  passage  of  the  French,  the  most  considerable  was  Eres- 
burgh,  near  Paderbourn.  In  this  fort,  was  worshiped,  in 
a rich  temple,  the  idol  Irmunstal,  the  tutelary  deity  of  tht 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


91 

nation.  Charlemagne  besieged  the  place,  got  possession  of 
it,  carried  oft'  all  the  gold  and  silver  of  the  temple,  and  spent 
three  days,  in  razing  it  entirely  to  the  ground. 

A desire  of  converting  the.  Saxons  to  Christianity,  seems 
to  have  been  one  of  the  principal  motives  to  their  conquest. 
Charlemagne  justly  considered  the  mild  doctrines  of  that 
religion,  as  the  best  means  of  taming  a savage  people:  but  he 
erred,  in  supposing  that  Christians  could  ever  be  made  by 
force. 

Resides  the  Lombards  and  the  Saxons,  whom  he  con- 
quered, Charles  vanquished,  in  several  engagements,  the 
Avares,  or  Huns;  and  penetrated  as  far  as  the  Raab,  on  the 
Danube.  He  likewise  made  an  expedition  into  Spain;  and 
carried  his  arms  to  the  banks  of  the  Ebro.  In  repassing 
the  Pyrenees,  his  rear  guard  was  defeated  by  the  duke  of 
Gascony,  at  Roncevaux;  and  here  fell  the  famous  Roland, 
so  much  celebrated  in  romance,  and  represented  as  a nephew 
of  Charlemagne. 

War  was  then  carried  on,  without  any  settled  plan.  The 
troops  were  neither  regularly  disciplined,  nor  regularly 
paid.  Every  nobleman  led  forth  his  vassals,  who  were 
obliged  to  serve  only  for  a certain  time;  the  army  was  dis- 
solved, on  the  approach  of  winter,  and  assembled,  the  next 
season,  if  required. 

gQQ  Hitherto,  Charles  was  honoured  only  with  the  title 
of  king.  But,  an  appellation,  considered  yet  higher, 
was  now  conferred  upon  him,  by  the  pope.  On  Christmas 
day,  when  the  monarch  was  attending  mass,  in  St.  Peter's 
church,  at  Rome,  the  supreme  pontiff  advanced,  and  placed 
upon  his  head  an  imperial  crown;  and,  having  conducted 
him  to  an  imperial  throne,  declared,  that,  he  should  thence- 
forth be  styled  emperor  and  Augustus. 

The  pope  had  surely  no  right  to  proclaim  an  emperor; 
though  Charles  was  worthy  of  the  imperial  ensigns;  and 
may  justly  be  considered  as  founder  of  the  new  empire  of 
the  West. 

Thus,  the  western  empire,  which  had  expired  with  Au- 
gustulus,  in  the  year  476,  was  revived  in  the  person  of 
Charlemagne. 

Though  engaged  in  so  many  wars,  Charles  did  not  neglect 
the  arts  of  peace.  Government  and  manners,  religion  and 
letters,  were  his  constant  pursuits.  He  frequently  convened 
the  national  assemblies,  for  regulating  the  affairs  both  of 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


church  and  state.  The  French  nobles  had  been  accustomed, 
from  the  foundation  of  the  monarchy,  to  share  the  legislation 
with  their  sovereigns.  He  manifested  a particular  regard 
for  the  common  people;  and  studiously  promoted  their  ease 
and  advantage.  He  repaired  and  formed  public  roads, 
built  bridges,  made  rivers  navigable  for  the  purposes  of 
commerce;  and  projected  a canal,  which  would  have  opened 
a communication  between  the  German  Ocean  and  the  Black 
Sea,  by  uniting  the  Danube  with  the  Rhine;  a noble  project, 
which  failed  in  the  execution,  for  want  of  adequate  machines. 

The  renown  of  Charles  was  not  confined  to  Europe.  It 
extended  even  into  Asia.  The  famous  Haroun  Al  Rashid, 
king  of  Persia,  one  of  those  khalifs  who  contributed  most 
to  enlighten  and  polish  the  Arabs,  valued  his  friendship, 
above  that  of  all  other  potentates;  as  a proof  of  which,  he 
complimented  him  with  an  embassy,  and  ceded  to  him,  if 
not  the  lordship  of  Jerusalem,  as  some  authors  affirm,  at 
least  the  holy  places  in  that  city;  whither,  a great  many 
Christians  had  already  been  invited,  by  religion. 

Amongst  the  curious  presents,  hrnmdit  to  France,  hv  the 


ever  seen  in  that  kingdom:  for,  notwithstanding  the  efforts 
of  Charlemagne,  to  enlighten  the  nation,  his  subjects  were 
not  equal  to  those  of  Haroun,  either  in  the  liberal  or  the 
mechanic  arts. 

In  the  preceding  reign,  an  organ  had  been  sent,  with 
other  magnificent  presents,  from  Constantinople;  also  a no- 
velty in  France;  which  Pepin  gave  to  the  church  of  St.  Cor- 
neille, at  Compeigne. 

Charlemagne  died,  at  Aix-La-Chapelle,  his  usual 
place  of  residence,  in  the  seventy-second  year  of  his 
age,  and  the  forty-seventh  of  his  reign.  His  body  was  de- 
posited in  a vault,  in  his  chapel,  at  that  place,  seated  ea  a 
throne  of  gold,  arrayed  in  the  imperial  robes,  witii  his  Sword 
at  his  side,  the  crown  on  his  head,  the  Bible  on  his  knees, 
and  his  shield  and  sceptre  at  his  feet. 

This  great  prince  was  not  less  amiable  in  private  life, 
than  illustrious  in  his  public  character.  He  wras  an  affec- 
tionate father,  a fond  husband,  and  a generous  friend.  His 
house  was  a model  of  economy,  and  his  person  of  simplicity 
and  true  grandeur. — 66  For  shame,”  said  he,  to  some  of  his 
nobles,  who  were  more  sumptuously  attired,  than  the  occa- 
sion required;  “ learn  to  dress  like  men;  and  let  the  world 


/ tuc  vui  iv/uo  pi  cucn  to 

ambassadors  of  Al  Rashid,  was 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


33 


judge  of  your  rank,  by  your  merit,  not  by  your  apparel. 
Leave  silks  and  finery  to  women;  or  reserve  them  for  those 
days  of  pomp  and  ceremony,  when  robes  are  worn  for  show, 
not  use.” 

Charlemagne  was  of  gigantic  stature;  being  almost  seven 
feet  high,  and  proportionably  strong.  His  ordinary  dress 
consisted  of  a plain  doublet,  which,  in  winter,  was  made  of 
an  otter’s  skin;  a woollen  tunic,  fringed  with  silk,  and  a blue 
coat  or  cassock;  with  small-clothes  and  stockings,  made  of 
transverse  bands  of  cloth,  of  different  colours. 

He  delighted  in  the  conversation  and  company  of  learned 
men;  and  drew  them,  by  liberal  encouragement,  to  his  court, 
from  all  parts  of  Europe.  He  thus  established,  in  his  palace, 
an  academy,  of  which  he  esteemed  it  an  honour  to  rank 
as  a member;  and  in  the  cathedrals  and  principal  abbeys, 
schools;  from  which  institutions,  the  universities  of  Paris, 
Tours,  Thoulouse,  and  several  others,  are  supposed  to  have 
had  their  origin.  He  was  the  first  prince,  after  the  subver- 
sion of  the  Roman  empire,  that  made  any  attempt  for  the 
revival  of  letters,  and  the  advancement  of  commerce,  in  the 
west  of  Europe. 

But  though  he  was  one  of  the  most  learned  men  of  the 
age,  he  could  not  write. 

His  dominions  were  immense.  He  possessed  all  France, 
the  greater  part  of  Germany,  a part  of  Spain,  the  whole  of 
the  Low  Countries,  and  the  continent  of  Italy,  as  far  as 
Benevento. 

Under  the  first  two  races  of  the  French  monarchs,  the 
commerce  of  France,  was  of  small  importance.  It  was 
abandoned  chiefly  to  foreigners,  who  imported  but  few  ar- 
ticles of  value,  into  the  kingdom.  Spain  supplied  the  French 
with  horses  and  mules;  Friesland,  with  various  articles  of 
dress;  England,  with  corn,  iron,  tin,  lead,  leather,  and  sport- 
ing dogs;  Africa  and  the  East,  with  wine,  gauzes,  papyra , 
or  Egyptian  paper — the  only  paper  known  in  France,  till  the 
eleventh  century; — and  also  with  sweet  oil.  The  exports 
from  France,  consisted  generally  of  earthen-ware,  copper 
vessels,  wine,  honey,  madder,  and  salt. 

The  office  of  constable  began,  at  this  period,  to  acquire 
importance.  The  constable  was  originally  intrusted  with 
the  care  of  the  king’s  stables;  his  post  was  equivalent  to  that 
of  u master  of  the  horse;”  and  he  had  two  officers  under  him, 
called  marshals. 


34 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


The  general  mode  of  deciding  controversies,  which  the 
testimony  of  men  proved  inadequate  to  settle,  was  by  duel; 
but  there  was  another  mode,  not  unfrequently  practised, 
called  “ the  judgment  of  the  cross.”  In  the  decision  of 
doubtful  matters,  two  men  were  chosen,  who,  having  been 
conducted  to  the  church,  stood  erect,  with  their  hands  ex- 
tended, in  the  shape  of  a cross,  during  the  celebration  of 
divine  service;  and  the  cause  was  determined  in  favour  of 
him  whose  champion  remained  motionless  for  the  longest 
space  of  time. 

Eleven  years  before  his  death,  Charlemagne  had  associ- 
ated with  himself,  in  the  empire,  his  three  sons,  Charles, 
Pepin,  and  Louis.  But  the  two  eldest  having  died  before 
their  father,  Louis,  surnamed  the  Debonnaire,  from  the 
mildness  of  his  disposition,  now  succeeded  to  the  crown. 

The  empire  of  Charlemagne  soon  experienced  the  same 
fate  with  that  of  Alexander.  It  had  quickly  attained  its 
height:  it  rapidly  declined.  Not  yet  sufficiently  incorpo- 
rated by  time,  the  discordant  elements,  soon  began  to  se- 
parate, under  his  pacific  son;  and  that  vast  body  was,  in  a 
few  years,  entirely  dismembered. 

The  greatest  error  of  Louis,  was  caused  by  his  paternal 
affection,  and  a blind  imitation  of  his  father’s  example,  in 
dividing  his  dominions  amongst  his  children.  Three  years 
after  his  accession  to  the  throne,  he  admitted  his  eldest  son, 
Lothaire,  to  a participation  in  his  French  and  German  ter- 
ritories; declared  Pepin  king  of  Aquitaine,  and  Louis  king 
of  Bavaria.  Bernard,  king  of  Italy,  was  offended  at  this 
division.  As  the  law  of  descents  was  not  the  same  in  that, 
as  in  the  present  age;  or  rather,  as  the  rule  was  then  unset- 
tled; he  thought  his  right  to  the  empire  superior  to  the  claim 
of  Lothaire;  as  his  father,  Pepin,  was  the  elder  brother  of 
Louis.  In  contempt  of  the  imperial  authority,  to  which  his 
crown  was  subject,  he  levied  war  against  his  uncle.  But 
the  malcontent  prince,  having  been  abandoned  by  his  army, 
was  made  prisoner,  and  condemned  to  lose  his  head:  his 
uncle,  however,  by  a singular  kind  of  lenity,  mitigated  the 
sentence  to  the  loss  of  his  eyes,  which  were  bored  out; — a 
common  mode  of  punishment,  at  that  time,  in  France.  A 
few  days  after  this  cruelty  was  inflicted,  Bernard  died;  and 
Louis,  to  prevent  future  trouble,  ordered  three  natural  sons 
of  Charlemagne  to  be  shut  up  in  a convent. 

The  emperor  was  soon  seized  with  keen  remorse.  At  the 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


as 


palace  of  Attigni,  on  the  river  Aisne,  he  impeached  himself 
before  an  assembly  of  the  states,  and  requested  the  bishops 
to  enjoin  him  public  penance;  in  consequence  of  which,  the 
popes  disregarded  his  authority,  the  bishops  exalted  them- 
selves above  the  throne,  and  the  whole  fraternity  of  the 
church  claimed  exemption  from  all  civil  jurisdiction. 

Louis  had  married  a second  wife,  who  brought  him 
a son;  afterwards  known  by  the  name  of  Charles  the 
Bald.  She  urged  the  king  to  place  him  on  an  equality  with 
his  other  children:  Lothaire  consented  to  resign  a part  of 
his  dominions  to  Charles,  but  soon  repented  of  his  conces- 
sion; and  the  three  brothers,  by  a most  unnatural  association, 
joined  in  a rebellion  against  their  father.  The  emperor  was 
abandoned  by  his  army,  and  made  prisoner,  with  his  wife 
ggQ  and  his  son  Charles.  The  empress  was  shut  up  in 
° * a cloister;  and  Louis  himself  would  have  been  con- 
strained to  assume  the  monastic  habit,  had  it  not  been  sup- 
posed that  he  would  make  a voluntary  resignation  of  his 
crown.  But  he  was  treated  with  more  lenity  by  his  subjects, 
than  by  his  children.  Having  acknowledged  his  errors,  and 
promised  to  act  with  more  circumspection,  in  future,  the 
mobility  pitied  their  humbled  sovereign;  and  Louis  was  not 
reZ,  restored  to  his  dignity,  but  seemingly  reconciled  to  his 


qq^us  sons. 

recall  his"cv.use’  ma(^e  the  emperor,  of  his  liberty,  was  to 
as  she  had  1?/  ^ though  not  without  the  license  of  the  pope; 
not  lon«-  enioyect^v  taken  the  veil.  But  tranquillity  was 
mosities  to  court.  r touis'  Tlle  empress  brought  her  ani- 
was  deprived  of  the't  enem^cs  were  persecuted,  Lothaire 
might  be  reserved  for  hi/ °f  e™Pe,'f’  that  the  succession 
formed  a new  league  agains?n  Charles;  the  three  brothers 
pope',"  went  to  France,  in  the  W fat'leTr5  Gregory  IV  then 
deceitful  negotiation,  and  an  j™f  Lothaire;  and,  after  a 
the  part  of  Lothaire,  the  unfortuna\leTw  Wlth  GrefM7»  °,n 
8,„  in  a tumultuous  assemble  ami  ViUls.  was  d?P.0Sed> 


in  a tumultuous  assembly,  and 
in  his  stead. 


thaire  proclaimed, 


Louis  was  then  a piisoner,  in  a monastei  , Q . 
and,  being  much  intimidated,  he  patiently  suf ^olssons’ 
ceremony,  not  less  solemn,  than  debasing.  He  ™,  ] 

nirnself  upon  a hair-cloth,  spread  before  the  altar* j 
nirnself  guilty  of  the  charges  brought  against  him;  read'^  \ 
a written  confession,  in  which  he  was  made  to  accuse  hi. 


36 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


834. 


self  of  sacrilege  and  murder;  and  to  number  amongst  his 
crimes  the  marching  of  troops  in  lent,  and  the  taking  up  of 
arms,  to  defend  himself  against  his  rebellious  children:  then, 
by  order  of  the  archbishop,  he  laid  aside  his  sword  and  belt, 
divested  himself  of  his  royal  robes,  put  on  the  penitential 
sackcloth,  and  was  conducted  to  a cell. 

But  affairs  soon  changed,  in  favour  of  the  degraded 
monarch.  Lothaire  became  an  object  of  general  ab- 
horrence; his  father  Louis,  of  compassion.  His  two  brothers 
united  against  him,  in  behalf  of  their  much  injured  father; 
the  nobility  returned  to  their  allegiance,  and  the  ambitious 
Lothaire  was  obliged  to  crave  mercy,  in  view  of  the  whole 
army,  at  his  father’s  feet. 

Meanwhile,  France  was  not  wholly  disengaged  from 
foreign  wars.  Lothaire  and  his  brother  Pepin  marched 
with  an  army,  to  prevent  an  invasion,  by  the  Saracens,  of 
Spain;  and  assistance  was  sent,  by  Louis,  to  the  Neapolitans, 
(then  under  the  government  of  the  emperor  of  the  East,) 
whom  the  Saracens  of  Africa  threatened  to  attack.  Louis 
despatched  a fleet,  under  the  command  of  count  Boniface; 
who  made  a descent  upon  Africa,  between  Utica  and  Car- 
thage. He  was  at  first  successful.  He  defeated  an  army  of  the 
Saracens:  but,  unable  to  advance  a single  step  into  the  coift 
try,  without  meeting  fresh  armies,  the  very  defeat  of  * 
would  have  destroyed  his  own  troops,  he  re-embai^  year 
Louis  died,  near  Mentz,  in  the  sixtj^-  n>  " jje 
of  his  age,  and  the  twenty-seventh  of^^  ^as#  0f  a 
had  an  agreeable  countenance  and  depjg^  p0’ssessecl  an 
middling  stature,  but  well  proportion^  * ^ 

extraordinary  strength  of  body.  ^ce  to  the  ecclesiastics, 
By  too  raucn  affability  and  def  he  became  contemptible 
o-  whom  his  court  was  alwajgj  ities,  which  he  was  forced 
in  their  eyes,  and  exposed  to  *ng  of  mean  birth  to  the 
to  bear.  He  raised  seye^  insolent.  He  had  a great 
prelacy;  who  thereby  litttene8B  of  spirit;  and  was 

share  of  piety,  bu}^1  an(1  the  reading  of  holy  books, 
ond  of  the  churcas  to  ^ the  business  of  state, 
to  such  a degie  bad  gjven  bjm  a learned  education.  He 
I arlein^reek;  a necessary  acquirement,  at  that  time,  on 
unuersto^  Uie  freqUent  embassies  from  Constantinople  to 

the^t  of  France5  and  sPokc  Latin’  as  fluently as  llis 

n,ave  tongue. 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


87 

It  is  difficult,  if  not  impossible,  to  render  the  history  of 
the  early  ages  of  France,  interesting.  The  incidents  of  one 
reign,  seem  a monotonous  repetition  of  the  events  that  have 
preceded.  Revolts  and  invasions;  rebellions  of  children 
against  their  parents;  contentions  amongst  brothers;  assas- 
sinations of  kindred;  and  encroachments  of  the  popes  and 
bishops;  are  almost  the  only  materials  for  the  historian, 
arising  out  of  those  times  of  barbarism  and  superstition. 

When  the  late  king  had  become  conscious  of  approaching 
death,  he  set  apart  a crown,  a sword,  and  a golden  sceptre, 
for  Lothaire;  and  ordered  them  to  be  delivered  into  the 
prince’s  hands.  To  send  him  those  insignia  of  empire,  was 
to  declare  him  emperor;  but  the  present  was  accompanied 
with  these  conditions, — that  he  observed  his  engagement 
with  his  half-brother,  Charles,  and  the  empress;  and  gave 
them  no  trouble  about  that  part  of  the  succession,  which  he 
had  yielded  to  them  with  the  solemnity  of  an  oath. 

But  oaths  are  not  sufficient  to  bind  a person  of  inordinate 
ambition.  They  are  broken  by  him,  with  the  same  facility 
that  they  are  taken.  No  sooner  had  Lothaire  seen  his  father 
dead,  than  he  designed  to  make  himself  master  of  the  whole 
empire. 

After  many  sanguinary  battles,  in  which  Lothaire 
was  defeated,  an  accommodation  was  entered  into,  at 
Verdun.  Louis  and  Charles  yielded  much,  for  the  sake  of 
peace;  and  consented  to  a new  division  of  the  empire.  To 
Louis,  king  of  Bavaria,  was  assigned  all  the  country,  belong- 
ing to  the  French  empire,  beyond  the  Rhine,  together  with 
the  cities  of  Spires,  Worms,  and  Mentz;  and  hence,  we 
shall  hereafter  style  him  king  of  Germany.  To  Lothaire, 
besides  Italy,  with  the  title  of  emperor,  were  given,  all  the 
country  between  the  Rhine  and  the  Schelde,  Haynault  and 
Cambresis,  and  some  other  countries  on  this  side  of  the 
Maese;  from  the  head  of  that  river,  to  the  confluence  of  the 
Saone  and  Rhone;  and,  from  that  point,  all  the  Rhone,  a3 
far  as  the  sea,  with  the  countries  on  both  sides.  Charles 
had  all  the  rest  of  France,  and  bore  the  title  of  king  of 
France. 

£44  The  Normans  did  not  fail  to  profit  by  the  conten- 
tions of  the  brothers.  We  have  already  glanced  at 
the  descent  made  upon  the  territory  of  France,  by  parties 
of  this  nation;  but  never  had  that  warlike  people  appeared 
so  formidable,  as  in  the  present  year.  Every  river,  in  the 


38 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


northern  and  western  districts  of  the  empire,  was  now  pene- 
trated, by  their  innumerable  vessels:  but  their  most  consi- 
derable expedition,  was  conducted  by  a leader  named 
Regnier,  who  entered  the  Seine,  with  a fleet  of  six-hundred 
ships;  and,  after  terrifying  the  inhabitants  of  Rouen,  so  as 
to  cause  their  surrender,  proceeded,  without  meeting  any 
resistance,  to  the  city  of  Paris,  which  was  abandoned,  oil 
his  approach. 

That  capital,  and  the  surrounding  country,  became  a 
scene  of  pillage  and  dismay.  But  the  gold,  by  which  the 
invaders  were  induced  to  retire  from  Paris,  proved  only  a 
momentary  relief.  Like  the  ransoms,  paid  to  the  Yandalic 
spoilers  of  ancient  Rome,  it  invited  them  to  renew,  rather 
than  to  discontinue,  their  hostile  visits.  They  committed 
still  further  ravages,  at  Bourdeaux  and  Xaintes,  and  also, 
in  Friseland;  where  their  descents  were  so  unexpected,  and 
their  victories  so  easily  obtained,  that  they  were  to  be  seen, 
in  different  places,  almost  at  the  same  time;  and,  if  the  in- 
habitants were  not  alarmed  by  their  actual  presence,  they 
were  terrified  by  the  expectation  of  their  immediate  approach. 
846  Nor  were  the  Saracens  much  less  active,  in  their 
plundering  excursions,  than  the  pirates  of  the  north. 
They  entered  the  Tiber,  defeated  a party  of  the  emperor’s 
troops,  and  pillaged  St.  Peter’s  church,  at  the  very  gates  of 
Rome. 

Having  brought  his  affairs  into  such  a condition,  as 
D * to  fear  nothing  from  his  neighbours,  Lothaire  left 
Italy,  and  made  a journey  into  his  dominions,  on  the  north 
side  of  the  Alps.  This  was  the  last  movement  of  his  life. 
He  was  struck  with  a mortal  distemper;  and  the  recollec- 
tion of  the  many  evils  he  had  caused  to  the  French  empire, 
harrowed  up  his  soul.  Though  he  had  lived  a tyrant,  he 
determined  to  die  a saint.  He  ordered  himself  to  be  carried 

the  abbey  of  Prum,  in  the  Ardennes;  where  he  renounced 
he  imperial  dignity,  had  his  head  shaved,  and  assumed  the 
mbit  of  a monk;  rather,  we  are  inclined  to  suppose,  to  die 
n that  character,  than  to  pass  his  life  in  penitence;  for  his 
disease  was  beyond  the  power  of  medicine. — Six  days  after- 
wards, he  breathed  his  last,  in  the  fifteenth  year  of  his  reign, 
and  sixtieth  of  his  age. 

As  a curious  monument  of  the  ancient  Roman  language, 
(being  a corruption  of  the  Latin  tongue)  then  spoken  by  the 
French,  and  from  which  their  present  language  is  derived, 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


99 


we  have  placed,  in  a note,  a copy  of  an  oath,  taken  by 
Louis,  king  of  Bavaria,  as  a vassal  of  his  brother  Charles.* 

The  French  empire  had  been  already  much  weakened,  by 
the  division  amongst  the  three  sons  of  Louis  the  Debonnaire. 
It  was  yet  more  enfeebled,  by  a new  division,  of  that  part 
which  Lothaire,  the  emperor,  had  possessed,  amongst  his 
children;  and  still  further,  by  the  subsequent  assignment  of 
Aquitaine,  by  the  king  of  France,  to  his  son  Charles.  The 
raising  of  the  latter  to  a throne,  made  a sixth  king  in  the 
French  empire;  three  of  whom  had  the  name  of  Charles,  and 
two  that  of  Louis.  The  territory  held  by  Lothaire,  was 
called,  in  Latin,  Lotharingia;  afterwards,  in  French,  Lor- 
raine: so  that  this  name,  now  given  to  a province  of  less 
extent,  is  derived  from  the  name  of  that  prince. 

The  death  of  the  emperor,  Louis  II.,  without  male 
issue,  was  an  event  of  some  importance;  and  caused 
no  small  degree  of  intrigue,  amongst  the  several  members  of 
the  royal  family.  At  length,  the  superior  address  of  Charles 
the  Bald,  aided  by  the  favours  of  the  Roman  pontiff,  gained 
the  imperial  title  and  dominions  for  himself.  He  was 
crowned,  by  the  pope,  in  St.  Peter’s  church,  at  Rome,  on 
Christmas  day;  the  festival  on  which  his  grandfather,  Char- 
lemagne, had  received  the  imperial  crown,  in  the  same 
church. 

Various  circumstances  show,  that  the  clergy  now  aspired 
to  the  right  of  disposing  of  crowns;  a right  founded  by  them 
on  the  custom  of  anointing  kings.  They  employed  both 
fictions  and  sophisms,  to  make  themselves  independent. 
They  refused  to  take  the  oath  of  fealty;  because  sacred 
hands,  could  not,  without  abomination,  submit  to  hands 
impure!  One  superstition  produced  another.  Every  thing 

* “ Pro  don  amur,  et  pro  Christian  poblo  et  nostro  commun  salva 
ment,  dist  di  en  av'ant,  in  quant  Dens  savir  et  poter  me  dunat,  si  sal 
varai  eo  cest  meon  fradra  Karlo,  et  en  adjudha  et  in  cadhuna  cosa,  si 
cum  horn  per  areit  son  fradra  salvar  dist,  ino  quid  il  imi  altro  si  faret;  et 
ab  Ludher  nul  plaid  nunquam  prindrai,  qui  meon  vol  cist  meon  fradre 
Karle  in  damno  sit.” 

In  English:  “ For  the  love  of  God  and  of  the  Christian  people,  and 

for  our  common  safety,  from  this  day  forward,  so  long  as  God  shall 
give  me  knowledge  and  power,  I will  defend  my  brother  Charles,  and 
will  assist  him,  in  every  thing,  as  a man,  by  right,  ought  to  defend  his 
brother,  because  he  would  do  as  much  for  me;  and  I will  enter  into  no 
treaty  with  Lothaire,  that,  by  my  inclination,  shall  prove  prejudicial  to 
my  brother  Charles.” 


40 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


was  sanctified  by  ignorance.  We  may,  therefore,  certainly 
conclude,  that  the  usurpations  of  the  clergy,  were,  in  a 
great  measure,  caused  by  the  abject  superstition  of  the  peo- 
ple,— equally  blind,  wicked,  and  devout. 

Louis,  king  of  Germany,  brother  of  Charles  the 

Bald,  was  succeeded  by  his  three  sons, — Carloman, 
Louis,  and  Charles:  each  of  whom  entered  into  that  part  of 
his  dominions,  which  had  been  assigned  to  him.  Carloman 
was  called  king  of  Bavaria;  Louis,  of  Germany;  Charles, 
of  Allemania.  But  this  division,  however  satisfactory  to 
the  brothers,  was  not  acquiesced  in  by  their  uncle,  Charles 
the  Bald.  He  demanded  a share  in  the  succession,  and  a 
restitution  of  part  of  Lorraine,  formerly  wrested  from  him, 
by  their  father.  Having  amused  the  king  of  Germany  with 
a treaty,  Charles  insidiously  advanced  against  his  nephew, 
and  a battle  was  fought,  near  Megen,  in  which  the  empe- 
ror’s army  was  completely  routed.  The  horror  of  being  in 
the  dark,  in  a country  with  which  the  invaders  were  unac- 
quainted, increased  their  consternation;  and  the  emperor 
was  obliged  to  fly,  that  he  might  not  be  surrounded. 

The  slaughter,  made  in  the  pursuit,  was  dreadful.  A 
great  number  of  prisoners  was  taken,  and  the  emperor  ar- 
rived, almost  alone,  at  the  monastery  of  St.  Lambert,  on  the 
Meuse. 

Charles  was  not  allowed  to  have  a long  repose. 

Having  provided,  in  the  best  way  that  circumstances 
would  permit,  for  the  safety  of  the  country  lying  near  the 
Seine,  against  the  Normans,  he  led  an  army  towards  Italy; 
in  conformity  with  a promise,  made  some  time  before,  by 
him,  to  the  pope.  But,  he  did  not  reach  the  country  of  his 
destination.  He  fell  sick,  on  the  road;  was  poisoned,  by  a 
treacherous  physician;  and  died  at  Brios,  a small  village,  at 
the  foot  of  Mount  Cenis,  in  the  second  jrear  of  his  empire, 
and  the  thirty-eighth  of  his  entire  reign,  aged  fifty -four. 

He  was  a prince,  brought  sometimes  by  misfortune,  and 
at  other  times  by  want  of  conduct,  to  the  brink  of  ruin. 
He  possessed  much  less  courage,  than  artifice  and  cunning. 
His  reign,  as  well  as  that  of  his  father,  Louis  the  Debon- 
naire,  was  the  reign  of  the  bishops.  He  was  not,  however, 
wholly  destitute  of  praise;  being  commended  for  his  love  of 
letters,  and  of  learned  men.  He  was  the  most  powerful  of 
all  the  princes  of  his  family;  and,  after  him,  none  of  Char- 
lemagne’s posterity,  in  France,  had  so  extensive  a dominion 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


41 


Louis  II.  9 only  son  of  Charles  the  Bald,  surnamed  the 
Stammerer,  from"  an  impediment  in  his  speech,  may  be  said 
to  have  purchased  the  crown  of  France,  at  the  price,  and 
on  the  conditions,  imposed  upon  him  by  the  nobility  and 
bishops. 

ft7Q  The  reign  of  Louis  was  very  short.  He  lived  only 
eighteen  months,  after  ascending  the  throne;  and  was 
succeeded  by  Louis  III.  and  Carloman  II.,  his  two  sons,  by 
a wife  whom  he  had  divorced. 

On  the  death  of  the  joint  kings  of  France,  their  half- 
brother,  Charles,  born  after  his  father’s  death,  and  known  by 
the  name  of  the  Simple,  ought  to  have  succeeded  to  the 
monarchy,  by  the  right  of  birth:  but,  as  he  was  very  young, 
884  no^es  e^ec^et^  Charles  the  Fat  (son  of  Louis  the 
German)  already  emperor,  and  successor  to  his  two 
brothers.  He  re -united,  in  his  person,  all  the  French  em- 
pire, except  Provence,  which  had  been  erected  into  a new 
kingdom,  by  the  intrigues  of  duke  Boson  (father-in-law  of 
Carloman;)  who  was  placed  upon  the  throne,  and  fixed  his 
residence  at  Arles. 

The  incapacity,  and  even  cowardice  of  Charles,  soon  be- 
came too  obvious  to  be  denied.  After  disgracing  himself, 
by  ceding  Friseland  to  the  Normans,  and  promising  them  a 
tract  of  land  for  their  forbearance,  he  roused  them  by  his 
perfidy,  and  encouraged  them  by  his  weakness.  Enraged 
at  the  death  of  their  king,  who  had  been  invited  to  a con- 
ference, and  murdered,  they  entered  France,  burned  Pon- 
toise,  and  besieged  Paris. 

ggg  This  siege  is  much  celebrated  by  the  French  his- 
torians. Eudes,  count  of  Paris,  who  afterwards 
ascended  the  throne  of  France;  his  brother  Robert;  bishop 
Gosselin;  and  his  nephew,  abbot  Eble;  were  particularly 
distinguished,  by  their  patriotism  and  valour.  The  besieged 
defended  themselves,  for  a whole  year,  against  an  army  of 
thirty -thou sand  men.  At  length,  Charles  appeared,  with  a 
great  force,  for  its  relief;  fully  persuaded,  that  the  sight  of 
his  standard,  would  induce  the  Normans  to  retire.  But  he 
was  soon  made  sensible  of  his  error.  They  did  not  discover 
the  slightest  alarm.  What,  therefore,  he  could  not  accom- 
plish by  force,  he  purchased  with  his  gold.  He  engaged  to 
pay  them  a large  ransom,  for  the  safety  of  his  capital  and 
kingdom;  and,  what  was  still  more  disgraceful,  he  stipulated 
that  the  Normans  should  winter  in  Burgundy,  which  had 
d 2 


42 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


not  yet  acknowledged  his  authority;  and  in  which  they  con- 
tinued their  ravages,  with  the  most  insatiable  fury. 

The  emperor’s  reputation,  already  very  low,  was,  by  this 
ignominious  treaty,  entirely  ruined.  He  had  no  minister, 
in  whom  he  could  confide;  for  he  was  neither  loved  nor 
feared.  The  Germans  first  revolted;  a prosecution,  com- 
menced by  him  against  the  empress  Richilda,  completed 
ggg  his  disgrace;  and  he  was  at  length  deposed,  in  a diet 
of  the  empire,  and  to  so  great  a degree  neglected,  as 
to  be  obliged  to  subsist  by  the  liberality  of  the  archbishop 
of  Mentz. 

Arnold,  a natural  son  of  Carloman,  king  of  Bavaria,  and 
grandson  of  Louis  the  German,  was  now  raised  to  the  im- 
perial throne.  Count  Eudes,  whose  valour  had  saved  Paris, 
and  whose  father,  Robert  the  Strong,  had  been  no  less  brave, 
than  illustrious,  was  chosen  king  of  France;  a dignity  which 
he  agreed  to  hold,  in  trust,  for  Charles  the  Simple,  yet  a 
minor. 

The  high  reputation  of  Eudes  did  not  exempt  him  from 
being  attacked,  by  the  Normans.  He  wras  harassed  by  them, 
on  all  sides.  An  army  of  ten-thousand  of  that  nation  having 
got  into  the  narrow  lanes,  near  the  town  of  Montfaucon,  he 
sallied  out  of  a wood,  where  he  had  been  lying  in  ambuscade, 
with  a thousand  horse,  and  charged  them,  with  so  much  im- 
petuosity and  courage,  that  they  wrere  entirely  dispersed, 
ggg  After  the  death  of  Eudes,  Charles  the  Simple, 
now  acknowledged  king  of  France,  in  his  own  right, 
increased,  by  his  weakness,  the  prevailing  evils.  The 
nobles  openly  aspired  at  independence.  They  usurped  the 
governments  with  which  they  had  been  intrusted;  and  extort- 
ed confirmation  of  them,  from  Charles,  for  themselves  and 
their  heirs,  on  the  easy  condition  of  an  empty  homage.  A 
large  and  well  regulated  kingdom  was  thus  divided  into  a 
multitude  of  separate  principalities,  altogether  independent 
of  the  crown,  or  dependent  only  in  name;  the  possessors  of 
which  waged  continual  wars  against  each  other,  and  exercised 
insupportable  tyranny  over  their  unhappy  vassals. 

The  most  powerful  lords  of  the  kingdom,  at  that  time, 
seem  to  have  been  Foulk,  archbishop  of  Rheims,  Herbert, 
count  of  Yermandois,  and  Robert,  brother  of  the  late  king. 

The  Normans  were  not  inattentive  spectators  of  these 
events.  They  took  advantage  of  the  state  of  anarchy  and 
weakness,  to  establish  themselves  in  France 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


43 


Rollo,  one  of  their  most  illustrious  leaders,  after  having 
spread  terror  over  all  the  maritime  provinces  of  Europe, 
sailed  up  the  Seine,  fixed  his  head-quarters  at  Rouen,  and 
soon  became  so  formidable,  that  Charles  offered  him  his 
daughter,  in  marriage,  with  a part  of  Neustria,  as  her 
dowry.  The  archbishop  of  Rouen  was  charged  with  the  ne- 
gotiation. He  demanded  only  that  Rollo  should  become  a 
Christian.  The  Norman  was  influenced  more  by  worldly 

1 considerations,  than  religion.  After  consulting  his 
soldiers,  he  agreed  to  the  treaty;  on  condition  that 
Brittany  also  should  be  ceded  to  him,  till  Neustria,  then 
entirely  laid  waste  by  his  countrymen,  should  be  restored  to 
cultivation.  His  request  was  granted : he  was  then  baptized, 
by  the  name  of  Robert — nearly  all  his  army  following  his 
example — and  did  homage  for  his  crown;  less  as  a vassal, 
than  a victor. 

Rollo  proved  himself  equally  skilled  in  the  arts  of  peace, 
as  those  of  war.  The  country  ceded  to  him  (thenceforth  call- 
ed Normandy,  in  honour  of  its  new  inhabitants)  soon  became 
flourishing  and  happy.  He  invited  a great  number  of  Scan- 
dinavians, to  colonize  his  dominions;  and,  in  a short  time, 
not  only  was  the  new  dutchy  populous  and  well  cultivated, 
but  the  Normans  were  regular  in  their  manners,  and  obedient 
to  the  laws.  A band  of  pirates  became  good  citizens,  and 
their  leader  the  ablest  prince  of  the  age  in  which  he  lived. 

The  only  flaw  in  the  character  of  Rollo,  was,  his  barbarity 
to  his  wife;  who,  in  consequence  of  ill  treatment,  died  of  a 
broken  heart:  and  when  Charles  sent  two  officers  to  remon- 
strate with  him  on  the  impropriety  of  his  conduct,  he  had 
them  both  put  to  death. 

Meanwhile,  great  alterations  occurred,  in  the  neighbouring 
states,  and  amongst  the  princes  of  the  blood  of  Charlemagne. 
The  emperor  Arnold  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Louis  IV.; 
and,  on  the  decease  of  Louis,  without  male  issue,  the  empire 
departed  from  the  French,  to  the  Germans;  from  the  family 
of  Charlemagne,  to  those  Saxons,  whom  he  had  subjected 
and  persecuted;  who  became,  in  their  turn,  the  persecutors 
of  other  pagans. 

Conrad  was  the  first  German,  that  ruled  the  empire, 
after  it  had  ceased  to  be  an  appendage  of  France. 

There  being  no  longer  any  French  prince,  on  any  throne, 
beyond  the  Alps,  or  beyond  the  Rhine,  this  history  will,  for 
the  future,  be  confined  to  the  affairs  of  France 


44 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


Though  the  successors  of  Charlemagne  possessed  the 
empire  which  he  had  formed,  by  virtue  of  hereditary  descent, 
they  had  usually  procured  the  sanction  of  the  nobles  to  their 
testamentary  deeds,  that  no  disputes  might  arise,  with  re- 
gard to  the  succession,  after  their  death.  This  precaution 
was  highly  necessary,  in  those  turbulent  ages.  But,  what 
was,  at  first,  only  a politic  condescension  of  the  emperors, 
the  nobles  converted  into  a privilege;  and  hence  originated 
the  right  of  those  electors,  by  whom  the  emperor  was,  until 
very  lately,  invested  with  the  imperial  powers. 

Thus  authorized,  by  custom,  the  German  nobility  assem- 
bled at  Worms,  on  the  death  of  Louis  IV.;  and,  not  judging 
Charles  the  Simple  worthy  to  govern  them,  they  elected 
Conrad,  duke  of  Franconia. 

This  right  of  choosing  an  emperor,  originally  enjoyed  by 
all  the  members  of  the  Germanic  body,  was  afterwards  con- 
fined to  eight  of  the  chief  members, — the  archbishops  of 
Mentz,  Cologne,  and  Treves,  the  king  of  Bohemia,  the  duke 
of  Saxony,  the  marquis  of  Brandenburg,  (afterwards  king  of 
Prussia,)  the  count  palatine  of  the  Rhine,  and  the  duke  of 
Hanover,  afterwards  king  of  England. 

The  misfortunes  of  the  imbecile  Charles,  did  not 
terminate  with  the  cession  to  the  Normans.  The 
throne  itself  was  at  length  transferred  to  another.  Indig- 
nant at  the  favours  shown,  by  him,  to  his  minister  Hagano, 
a person  of  mean  birth,  several  of  the  most  influential  nobles, 
at  the  head  of  whom  was  duke  Robert,  brother  of  the  late 
king  Eudes,  joined  in  a rebellion,  declared  Charles  unworthy 
to  be  their  king,  and  raised  Robert  to  the  throne.  A san- 
guinary battle  was  fought,  near  Soissons.  The  king  and  the 
usurper  both  signalized  their  courage.  But  Robert  was 
killed;  some  historians  say  by  count  Gulbert,  who  carried 
the  royal  standard;  others,  by  the  king  himself;  who  thrust 
his  lance  into  his  mouth. 

The  death  of  the  hostile  chief,  did  not,  however*  give  the 
victory  to  the  king.  Hugh  the  Great,  Robert’s  son,  (thus 
named,  by  reason  of  his  lofty  stature,)  reanimated  the  dis- 
heartened troops,  and  charged  the  king’s  army,  with  so  much 
fury,  that  he  put  the  whole  to  the  rout,  and  caused  the  king 
himself  to  commit  his  safety  to  an  ignoble  flight. 

‘ The  crown  was  now  offered  to  Hugh  the  Great:  but 

he  declined  it,  and  procured  it  for  Rodolph,  duke  of 
Burgundy,  who  had  married  his  sister;  and  was  of  course 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


45 


the  son-in-law  of  Robert.  The  imprisonment  of  the  unhappy 
Charles,  which  immediately  followed,  ended  only  with  his 
death.  His  queen,  Ogiva,  daughter  of  Edward  the  Elder, 
king  of  England,  and  grand-daughter  of  the  great  Alfred, 
escaped  into  her  father’s  kingdom,  with  the  young  prince 
Louis,  her  son,  then  only  three  years  old. 

It  would  be  difficult,  to  select  a period,  more  crowded 
with  disturbances,  than  the  reign  of  Rodolph.  The  intrigues 
of  the  count  of  Vermandois,  to  whose  treachery  towards  the 
late  king,  Rodolph  was  chiefly  indebted  for  the  crown, 
caused  the  new  monarch  to  sit  very  uneasily  on  his  throne. 
No  honours,  no  immunities,  no  aggrandizements  of  territory, 
were  thought  equivalent  to  the  treason,  committed  against 
his  old  master,  and  the  services  rendered  to  the  new.  But, 
notwithstanding  the  turbulent  disposition  of  Vermandois, 
together  with  the  hostilities  of  the  duke  of  Normandy,  and 
the  king  of  Germany,  Rodolph  resigned  the  sceptre 
only  with  his  life.  A reign  of  thirteen  years,  during 
which  he  had  to  contend  against  all  the  disadvantages  of 
usurpation,  shows  him  to  have  been  a prince  of  consummate 
abilities  and  prudence. 

No  sooner  was  the  death  of  Rodolph  known,  in  England, 
than  the  widow  of  Charles  the  Simple,  and  her  son  Louis, 
employed  their  partisans  in  France,  to  obtain  a restoration 
of  the  crown,  to  the  posterity  of  Charlemagne.  Athelstan, 
king  of  England,  the  queen’s  brother,  and  uncle  to  Louis, 
engaged  William,  duke  of  Normandy,  to  use  his  friendly 
offices  with  Hugh  the  Great,  and  the  count  of  Vermandois, 
in  favour  of  the  prince.  The  interposition  was  successful. 
After  an  exile  of  thirteen  years,  young  Louis  landed  at 
Bologne,  whence  he  was  conducted  to  Laon:  where  he  was 
crowned  and  anointed,  by  the  archbishop  of  Rheims. 

It  was  not  to  be  expected,  that  a youth  of  sixteen,  but 
slightly  acquainted  with  the  affairs  of  France,  would  be  fully 
equal  to  the  administration  of  its  government;  yet  he  con- 
ducted himself  with  a spirit  becoming  his  rank;  though  not 
without  some  degree  of  that  imprudence  which  was  natural 
to  his  age. 

He  attempted  to  rescue  himself  from  the  tyranny  of  duke 
Hugh;  who  allowed  him  little  more  than  the  name  of  king. 
But  in  this,  he  was  defeated.  After  a variety  of  struggles, 
he  was  constrained  to  make  peace  with  his  powerful  vassal, 
and  cede  to  him  the  country  of  Laon. 


46 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


The  death  of  William  the  First,  duke  of  Norman- 
* dj,  who  was  assassinated,  after  a conference,  by  the. 
order  of  Arnulph,  count  of  Flanders,  caused  a great  many 
intrigues,  in  France.  He  left  Richard,  his  son,  a very 
young  child,  his  successor.  Upon  this  occasion,  the  king 
expressed  a great  deal  of  grief;  and,  having  gone  to  Rouen, 
he  assured  the  Normans,  that  he  would  severely  revenge 
the  murder  of  their  duke.  But,  Louis  had  another  design. 
He  wished  to  secure  the  young  duke’s  person,  and  drive  the 
Normans  out  of  France.  They  were  not,  however,  without 
suspicion,  that  something  unfair  was  intended.  An  insur- 
rection of  the  people  was  excited;  in  which,  the  king  incur- 
red the  risk  of  his  life:  but,  he  at  length  prevailed;  and  the 
Normans  consented  to  let  him  take  their  prince,  and  educate 
him  at  his  own  court. 

The  design  of  the  king,  however,  was  defeated,  by  the 
escape  of  the  young  duke.  Disguised  in  the  habit  of  a 
groom,  Osman,  his  governor,  carried  him  away,  one  evening, 
on  his  shoulders,  in  a truss  of  hay. 

A war  soon  afterwards  ensued,  between  the  French  and 
Normans.  The  army  of  Louis,  being  surprised  at  Rouen, 
was  quickly  routed;  and,  unfortunately  for  this  prince,  the 
bridle  of  his  horse  having  been  cut,  in  the  battle,  he  could 
no  longer  manage  him,  was  pursued,  and  taken  prisoner. 
An  opportunity  of  enlargement,  was,  however,  soon  afforded. 
Eager  to  pillage  the  baggage  of  the  French  army,  the  guards 
that  were  placed  upon  him,  rambled  too  far;  and  Louis 
mounted  one  of  their  horses,  and  escaped.  But  he  was  not 
yet  out  of  danger.  He  was  again  taken.  He  was  recog- 
nised, in  his  flight,  by  a Norman  soldier;  and  the  king, 
having  no  arms,  was  forced  to  yield.  Induced,  however, 
by  the  liberal  promises  made  to  him,  by  the  captive  monarch, 
the  soldier  did  not  inform  his  comrades  of  the  greatness  of 
his  prize,  but  concealed  him,  in  an  island,  on  the  Seine. 

This  was  a painful  situation  for  a king.  He  continued 
there  for  some  time;  but  the  soldier,  being  suspected,  was 
taken  into  custody;  his  horses,  his  goods,  of  all  kinds,  with 
his  wife  and  children,  wrere  seized;  and  every  thing  he  pos- 
sessed, was  threatened  with  confiscation,  if  he  did  not  dis- 
cover when'  the  king  was  hidden.  The  penalty  overcame 
his  resolution  He  led  a party  of  the  Normans  to  the  place 
of  concealment*  and  Louis  was  again  retaken. 

The  captors  did  not  fail  to  profit  by  the  possession  of  the 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


47 


king.  They  made  him  swear,  that  he  yielded  anew,  and 
confirmed  to  Richard,  all  that  had  been  yielded  to  his  grand- 
father, Rollo:  and  it  was  stipulated  that  neither  Richard, 
nor  his  successors,  should  owe  service  for  Normandy,  except 
to  God  alone;  so  that  the  subjection  of  the  duke,  was  thereby 
reduced  to  simple  homage. 

What  the  nature  of  this  homage  was,  may  not  be  fully 
known,  to  the  majority  of  readers.  It  is  thus  described,  in 
the  English  law-books,  and  is  not  unworthy  of  attention: — 
6 6 Besides  an  oath  of  fealty,  or  profession  of  faith  to  the  lord, 
which  was  the  parent  of  our  oath  of  allegiance,  the  vassal  or 
tenant,  upon  investiture,  did  usually  homage  t o his  lord; 
openly  and  humbly  kne*  ling,  being  ungirt  and  uncovered, 
and  holding  up  his  hands  both  together,  between  those  of 
the  lord,  who  sat  before  him;  and  there  professing,  that  he 
did  become  his  man , from  that  day  forth,  of  life,  and  limb, 
and  earthly  honour:  and  then  he  received  a kiss,  from  his 
lord: — which  ceremony  was  denominated  liomagium , or 
manhood,  by  the  feudists.  ” 

But  the  homage  of  a proud  and  powerful  chieftain,  such 
as  the  duke  of  Normandy,  was  more  frequently  performed 
by  a representative,  than  by  the  vassal  himself. 

Louis  died,  in  the  thirty-seventh  year  of  his  age, 
and  eighteenth  of  his  reign,  in  consequence  of  a fall 
from  his  horse,  when  hunting  a wolf,  on  the  banks  of  the 
river  Aisne.  He  left  a shadow  of  power,  to  his  son  Lothaire: 
or  rather,  Hugh  the  Great  was  pleased  to  grant  him  the 
title  of  king,  that  he  himself  might  enjoy  the  power. 

The  late  king  left  two  sons, — Lothaire  and  Charles;  the 
former,  about  fourteen  years,  the  latter,  about  one  year  old. 

Notwithstanding  the  vast  power  of  Hugh  the  Great,  and 
the  desire  probably  felt,  by  him,  of  having  one  of  his  family 
again  placed  upon  the  throne,  it  was  yet  an  enterprise  which 
he  durst  not  undertake.  Three  years  before  his  death, 
Louis  had  wisely  used  the  precaution  to  associate  his  eldest 
son,  Lothaire,  in  the  government,  and  have  him  recognised 
as  king  of  France;  so  that  Hugh  chose  rather  to  preserve  to 
himself  the  power  of  a king,  than  to  dispute  about  the  title. 
In  return  for  his  promised  friendship,  he  was  made  duke  of 
Aquitaine;  though  he  already  enjoyed  the  honours  of  duke 
of  France  and  duke  of  Burgundy,  count  of  Orleans  and 
Paris.  He  did  not,  however,  long  survive  the  honour  last 
conferred  upon  him.  As  he  was  preparing  for  a campaign 


48 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


950  against  the  inhabitants  of  Aquitaine,  in  order  to  obtain 
possession  of  that  dutchy,  he  died  at  Dourdan. 

This  ambitious  nobleman,  not  less  formidable  than  the 
ancient  majors,  was  succeeded,  in  importance  and  abilities, 
bj  his  eldest  son  Hugh,  surnamed  Capet. 

Many  of  the  vassals  of  Lothaire,  held  more  towns  and 
estates,  than  he  possessed  himself.  He  was  reduced  almost 
to  the  single  city  of  Laon.  One  of  his  chief  employments 
was  to  be  the  spectator,  and  sometimes  the  arbiter,  of  petty 
wars,  which  all  those  haughty  nobles,  were  continually 
waging  against  each  other.  Sometimes,  they  surprised  a 
city — sometimes,  they  took  possession  of  a little  town,  be- 
longing to  a neighbour.  At  another  time,  this  neighbour, 
by  way  of  reprisal,  sent  whole  companies  of  robbers  against 
the  estates  of  the  first  aggressor,  to  pillage  them.  Nor  was 
the  king  himself  exempt  from  these  inroads.  He  was  in- 
sulted, in  the  same  manner,  and  defended  himself  in  the 
same  way;  this  day,  joining  the  side  of  one  lord — the  next 
day,  of  another. 

A war  with  Normandy,  commenced  for  the  purpose  of 
conquering  that  dutchy,  was  less  alarming  to  the  French, 
than  an  invasion  by  the  Germans.  Enraged  at  the  ravages, 
committed  upon  his  territory,  by  Lothaire,  the  emperor 
Otho  entered  France,  with  an  army  of  sixty-thousand  men, 
penetrated  as  far  as  Paris,  burned  part  of  the  suburbs,  and 
remained  encamped  before  the  city,  until  he  learned  that 
the  king  was  approaching,  with  a large  body  of  forces,  to 
intercept  his  return. 

Lothaire  died,  at  Rheims,  in  the  forty-sixth  year  of 
his  age,  and  thirty-second  of  a nominal  reign;  having 
had,  after  the  example  of  his  father,  his  eldest  son,  Louis, 
recognised,  during  his  life-time,  as  king. 

W e have  already  mentioned,  that,  before  the  accession  of 
Clovis,  learning  flourished  in  Gaul,  and  that  the  Latin  was 
the  vulgar  language  of  the  country.  But,  under  the  suc- 
cessors of  that  prince,  literature  greatly  declined;  the  Latin 
tongue  became  gradually  corrupted,  and,  before  the  end  of 
the  Merovingian  dynasty,  it  ceased  to  be  the  common  lan- 
guage of  France.  It  was  succeeded  by  the  Romance — a 
mixture  of  the  Frankish  dialect  and  bad  Latin — which  was 
the  language  of  France,  in  the  reign  of  Charlemagne,  and 
in  those  of  his  descendants;  and,  indeed,  with  many  and 
gradual  variations,  for  several  centuries  afterwards. 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


49 


Great,  were  the  efforts  of  Charlemagne,  for  the  revival 
of  learning,  in  his  dominions.  But,  after  the  death  of  that  en- 
lightened monarch,  the  mists  of  ignorance,  arising  from  the 
evils  of  anarchy,  overspread  the  minds  of  men;  literature, 
sciences,  and  civilization,  were  obscured,  in  the  universal 
gloom.  The  period  in  which  the  Carlovingian  dynasty 
ended,  was  the  age  of  ignorance,  in  Europe.  So  profound 
was  it,  that  scarcely  did  kings,  or  princes,  or  lords,  much 
less  the  common  people,  know  how  to  read.  Hence,  in  a 
great  measure,  arose,  the  influence  which  the  clergy  began 
to  acquire  in  temporal  affairs;  as  they  were  the  only  persons 
that  had  any  knowledge  of  letters. 

Louis  V.,  during  a short  and  turbulent  reign  of  fifteen 
months,  governed,  under  the  direction  of  Hugh  Capet. 

He  left  no  children,  to  succeed  him;  and  was  the  last 
king  of  France,  of  the  Carlovingians,  or  descendants  of 
Charlemagne;  who  had  occupied  the  throne  two-hundred- 
and-thirty-seven  years. 

The  kings  of  this  family  had  seldom  any  fixed  residence, 
but  were  constantly  travelling  about,  accompanied  by  their 
wives.  Charles  Martel  and  Pepin,  when  not  in  the  field, 
resided  most  frequently  at  Paris;  Charlemagne  and  his  son, 
at  Aix-la-Chapelle  or  Thionville;  Charles  the  Bald,  at 
Soissons  or  Compiegne;  Charles  the  Simple,  atliheims;  and 
Louis  the  Stranger,  at  Laon,  thejonly  place  of  strength  in 
his  dominions. 

— @ 044~- 

CHAPTER  III. 

HIE  THIRD,  OR  CAPETIAN  RACE  OF  KINGS. 

HUGH  CAPET. 

987—996. 

CHARLES,  duke  of  Lorraine,  uncle  of  the  late  king, 
was  his  natural  heir,  and,  according  to  monarchal  rules, 
should  have  ascended  the  throne,  after  his  nephew.  But 
the  aversion  and  contempt,  conceived,  in  regard  to  Charles, 
by  the  French  nation,  for  having  made  himself  a vassal  to 
the  emperor  of  Germany;  the  hatred  of  the  queen,  whose 
reputation  he  had  blackened,  with  most  scandalous  detrac- 
tion; the  unexpected  death  of  the  young  king;  and  the  af- 


50 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


fection  of  the  nobles  for  Hugh  Capet,  owing  to  his  valour 
and  prudence,  in  the  two  preceding  reigns;  were  the  princi- 
pal causes  of  raising  the  latter  to  the  throne,  and  of  exclud- 
ing the  natural  heir  to  the  crown. 

A victory,  gained  by  Hugh,  over  the  duke  of  Guyenne, 
who  had  espoused  the  side  of  Charles,  was  a decisive  stroke, 
in  the  present  situation  of  his  affairs.  He  did  not  neglect 
using  his  good  fortune,  to  the  best  advantage.  He  soon 
afterwards  obtained  the  consent  of  the  lords,  to  make  his  son 
Robert  a partner  with  him  in  the  government;  and,  by  that 
means,  to  secure  to  him  the  succession  to  the  crown. 

But  Charles,  though  his  fortune  was  now  low,  despaired 
not  of  ultimate  success.  He  besieged  and  took  Laon,  then 
one  of  the  strongest  places  in  the  kingdom;  and  there  made 
prisoners  the  queen,  and  the  bishop  of  Laon,  his  bitterest 
enemies. 

Though  Hugh  Capet  failed  in  reducing  the  place,  by  open 
force,  he  nevertheless  got  possession  of  it  by  surprise.  Not 
having  been  kept  in  strict  confinement,  the  bishop  had  given 
notice  to  the  besieged,  of  the  negligence  with  which  the 
town  was  guarded;  and,  acting  upon  this  advice,  Hugh  con- 
ducted his  measures  so  well,  that  he  surprised  it,  in  the 
night.  Charles  fell  into  his  rival’s  hands,  was  carried  to 
Orleans,  and  soon  afterwards  died  there,  in  prison;  leaving 
Hugh  Capet  in  quiet  possession  of  the  crown, 
ggg  This  prince  died,  in  the  fifty-seventh  year  of  his 
age,  and  the  tenth  year  of  his  reign. 

Though  conspicuous  for  his  valour,  he  was  still  more  dis- 
tinguished for  his  good  management  and  prudence.  He  had 
the  extraordinary  honour  of  establishing  a new  family,  and 
in  some  measure,  a new  form  of  government,  with  few  cir- 
cumstances of  violence,  and  without  the  effusion  of  blood; 
and  left  a throne,  to  his  posterity,  upon  which  they  are  now 
seated,  after  a lapse  of  more  than  eight-hundred  years. 

By  uniting  to  the  crown,  the  dutchy  of  France,  he  again 
established  the  ordinary  residence  of  the  French  kings  at 
Paris;  where  it  had  been  fixed  by  Clovis:  but  from  which  it 
had  been  diverted,  during  all  the  reigns  of  the  second  race. 

France,  from  its  dismembered  state,  was  involved,  during 
the  reign  of  Hugh  Capet,  in  poverty  and  barbarism.  While 
the  Greeks  and  Italians  were  famous  for  their  beautiful 
manufactures,  the  French  were  unable  to  imitate  them;  as 
their  cities  were  unchartered,  and  their  country  disunited 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


51 


Internal  commerce  was  scarcely  known;  and  the  inhabitants 
of  one  province  were  frequently  strangers  to  the  distance 
and  situation  of  the  next.  Few  people  could  read,  and  still 
fewer  could  write:  there  were  no  title-deeds  of  estates,  and 
no  deeds  or  registers  of  marriages. 

ROBERT. 

996—1031. 

The  most  remarkable  circumstance,  in  the  reign  of  Robert, 
is  his  excommunication,  by  the  pope.  He  had  espoused 
Bertha,  his  cousin  in  the  fourth  degree;  a marriage  not  only 
lawful,  according  to  our  ideas,  in  the  present  age,  and  jus- 
tified by  the  practice  of  all  nations,  but  in  this  instance, 
Bertha  being  a sister  of  the  duke  of  Burgundy,  expedient 
for  the  welfare  of  the  state. 

But  the  clergy,  amongst  their  other  usurpations,  at  this 
time,  laid  the  most  essential  of  civil  engagements  under 
spiritual  prohibition;  which  extended  even  to  the  seventh 
degree  of  consanguinity.  Gregory  V.,  therefore,  undertook 
to  dissolve  the  marriage  between  Robert  and  Bertha,  though 
it  had  been  authorized  by  seven  bishops;  and  published  an 
arbitrary  decree,  which  enjoined  the  separation  of  the  king 
and  queen  As  Robert  persisted  in  keeping  his  wife,  he 
incurred  the  sentence  of  excommunication;  which  had  such 
an  effect  upon  the  minds  of  men,  that  the  king  was  aban- 
doned by  all  his  court,  and  even  by  all  his  domestics,  except 
two.  Even  these  threw,  to  the  dogs,  all  the  food  left  by 
their  master  after  his  meals;  and  purified,  with  fire,  the 
vessels  in  which  he  had  been  served. 

The  want  of  firmness,  in  the  king,  with  regard  to  this 
distressing  affair,  is  much  to  be  lamented.  Yielding  to 
superstitious  terrors,  or  afraid  of  civil  commotions,  he  at  last 
repudiated  Bertha,  and  married  Constance,  a daughter  ot 
the  count  of  Arles;  in  whom,  he  found  an  imperious  ter- 
magant, instead  of  an  amiable  consort.  Hugh  de  Beauvais, 
prime  minister,  enjoyed  the  confidence  of  his  master;  and 
to  him  he  communicated  the  anxiety  and  uneasiness  which 
he  experienced,  from  the  misconduct  of  his  wife.  This  was 
sufficient  to  make  de  Beauvais  an  object  of  her  hatred  and 
revenge:  she  accordingly  had  him  assassinated,  in  presence 
of  her  husband,  who  in  vain  endeavoured  to  save  his 
favourite’s  life. 


52 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


1031  Robert  died,  after  a reign  of  thirty-five  years,  in 
the  sixtieth  year  of  his  age;  leaving  three  sons, — 
Henry,  Robert,  and  Eudes. 

The  good  works,  in  which  he  employed  himself,  without 
neglecting  his  several  duties;  and,  above  all,  his  great  charity 
to  the  poor;  gained  him  the  surname  of  Devout;  and  his 
moderation,  that  of  saint.  He  daily  distributed  food  to 
three-hundred  poor  people,  and  sometimes  to  a thousand. 
Every  Holy  Thursday,  he  served  them  on  his  knees,  and, 
being  clothed  in  sackcloth,  washed  their  feet.  But  his 
compassion  for  the  poor  sometimes  betrayed  him  into  acts 
of  injustice.  We  are  told,  that,  when  he  had  no  money  to 
give  them,  he  would  tell  them  to  go  and  steal,  and  would 
be  angry  if  they  were  prevented.  Helgaud,  the  monk,  says, 
that  rogues,  under  a pretence  of  begging,  would  frequently 
follow  him  into  his  apartment,  and  take  from  him  whatever 
was  of  value,  either  in  his  pockets,  or  on  his  clothes.  One 
of  them,  having  cut  off  the  half  of  a piece  of  gold  fringe, 
was  in  the  act  of  taking  away  the  rest,  when  the  king  mildly 
requested  him  to  be  contented  with  what  he  had,  and  to 
leave  the  remainder,  to  satisfy  the  wants  of  his  companions. 

Notwithstanding  the  efforts  of  this  prince  to  render  his 
subjects  happy,  he  had  the  misfortune  to  see  his  kingdom, 
several  times,  a prey  to  famine.  The  first  was  general, 
throughout  Europe;  but  the  second  was  confined  to  France, 
where  it  was  attended  with  circumstances  peculiarly  hor- 
rid. There  were  people  raging  with  hunger,  in  so  dread- 
ful a degree,  that  they  dug  up  the  dead  bodies  to  eat: 
others  seized  upon  the  children  in  the  streets,  or  way -laid 
the  travellers  in  the  fields  and  woods.  At  Tournus,  in 
Burgundy,  a butcher  exposed  human  flesh  to  public  sale; 
but  a stop  was  put  to  this  horrible  traffic,  and  the  brute  who 
had  carried  it  on,  was  condemned  to  the  flames.  Another 
man,  who  kept  a public  house,  in  a forest,  near  Macon, 
murdered  his  guests,  and  eat  them.  He  was  detected  by 
two  passengers,  who  were  lucky  enough  to  effect  their 
escape;  and,  when  his  house  was  searched,  eight-and -forty 
heads  of  men,  women,  anti  children,  whose  bodies  had  been 
devoured,  were  found;  and  the  barbarous  wretch  experienced 
the  same  punishment  as  the  butcher. 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


53 


HENRY  I. 

1031—1060. 

Henry  I.  tne  eldest  son  of  the  last  king,  was  twenty- 
five  years  of  age,  at  his  accession  to  the  throne.  With  all 
the  spirit  of  a young  man,  he  had  the  sagacity  and  prudence 
of  one  advanced  in  years;  without  which,  the  crown  would 
soon  have  been  shaken  from  his  head.  His  mother,  Con- 
stance, who  had  conceived  towards  him  a most  violent 
aversion,  had  drawn  over,  to  her  side,  a number  of  lords 
and  bishops,  for  the  purpose  of  enabling  her  to  place  his 
younger  brother,  Robert,  upon  the  throne.  Henry,  there- 
fore, after  some  ineffectual  struggling,  was  compelled  to 
take  refuge  in  Normandy;  where  he  was  well  received,  by 
the  reigning  duke;  who,  having  assisted  the  exiled  monarch 
with  an  army,  the  queen  dowager  and  her  faction  were 
humbled,  and  Henry  recovered  all  that  he  had  lost. 

The  year  had  not  expired,  before  he  was  obliged  to  take 
a part  in  a contest  for  the  succession  to  the  duchy  of  Nor- 
mandy. 

Following  the  impulse  of  a sort  of  devotion,  then  very 
much  in  fasliion,  Robert  II.  resolved  to  make  a pilgrimage 
to  Jerusalem.  He  had  no  legitimate  children;  but  only  a 
natural  son,  then  nine  years  of  age,  afterwards  so  famous, 
under  the  name  of  William  the  Conqueror;  who  had  been 
recognised  as  his  successor,  by  the  lords  of  Normandy,  and 
placed  under  the  protection  of  the  king  of  France. 

These  wise  precautions  were  not  unnecessary;  as 
Robert  died,  at  Nice,  in  his  return  from  the  Holy 
Land.  The  dutchy  was  soon  overspread  with  civil  war. 
The  king  went,  in  person,  to  join  duke  William;  and  a 
sanguinary  engagement  followed,  in  the  valley  of  Dunes. 
Here,  the  king  was  in  imminent  danger  of  being  killed, 
having  been  dismounted  and  thrown  to  the  ground,,  by  a 
famous  knight,  called  Le  Dentu.  Some  French  knights 
placed  themselves  before  the  king,  to  give  him  time  to  re- 
mount; and  Le  Dentu,  after  receiving  many  wounds,  died 
on  the  spot. 

Notwithstanding  the  enemy’s  vigorous  resistance,  their 
army  was  cut  to  pieces;  and,  after  many  hard-fought  battles, 
the  rebellious  subjects  of  the  duke  were  subdued. 
jQgQ  Henry  died  at  Yitri,  in  the  fifty-sixth  year  of  his 
age,  and  thirtieth  of  his  reign;  having,  tne  year  be- 
e 2 


54 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


fore,  had  his  eldest  son,  Philip,  crowned — then,  only  seven 
years  old. 

The  mother  of  this  prince,  was  Anne,  a daughter  of  Ja- 
raslau,  prince  of  Muscovy;  to  whom,  the  Europeans  gave 
the  title  of  Duke,  and  who  was  called,  by  the  Russians, 
Tzaar , since  corrupted  into  Czar. 

During  a part  of  this  reign,  the  Roman  church  was  go- 
verned by  three  anti-popes;  who,  by  a convention,  hitherto 
unexampled,  agreed  to  divide  the  revenues  equally  amongst 
them,  and  to  live  in  perfect  union.  The  celibacy  of  the 
priests,  though  established  in  the  western  church,  was  but 
ill  observed;  the  doctrine  of  tran substantiation  was  strongly 
combated  in  France,  and  the  real  presence  of  Christ,  in  the 
sacrament,  formally  denied. 

PHILIP  I. 

1060—1108. 

The  late  king  Henry  appointed,  as  regent,  during  the 
minority  of  his  son  Philip,  Baldwin  the  fifth,  count  of  Flan- 
ders. His  conduct  in  that  office  justified  the  wisdom  of 
Henry’s  choice.  He  was  alike  vigilant,  with  regard  both  to 
the  foreign  and  domestic  concerns  of  France. 

1066  The  a^'a*r  importance,  that  demanded  his 
attention,  was  the  invasion  of  England,  by  William 
duke  of  Normandy. 

The  Norman  prince  founded  his  claim  to  the  English 
crown,  on  a pretended  will  of  Edward  the  Confessor  (late 
king  of  England)  in  his  favour.  This  claim  he  fortified  by 
an  oath,  extorted  from  the  present  king,  Harold,  when  ship- 
wrecked, during  the  reign  of  his  predecessor,  on  the  coast 
of  France;  importing,  that  he  would  never  aspire  to  the 
succession,  and  that  he  would  even  support  the  pretensions 
of  the  duke.  But  the  will,  Harold  knew,  to  be  fictitious; 
and  the  oath  he  entirely  disregarded,  as  it  had  been  drawn 
from  him  by  the  fear  of  violence. 

A martial  spirit  had  now  diffused  itself  over  Europe;  and 
the  feudal  lords,  elated  by  their  princely  situation,  eagerly 
embraced  the  most  hazardous  enterprises,  how  little  soever 
they  might  be  interested  in  their  failure  or  success.  Wil- 
liam had  long  been  distinguished,  amongst  those  haughty 
chieftains,  by  his  power,  his  courage,  and  his  address,  in 
every  military  exercise;  and  all  who  were  ambitious  of  ac- 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


55 


quiring  renown  in  arms,  repaired  to  his  court;  where  they 
were  entertained  with  that  tiospiiality  and  courtesy,  which 
dignified  the  age.  Multitudes  of  adventurers,  therefore, 
tendered  their  services  to  William;  who  selected,  from  the 
whole,  as  many,  as,  when  added  to  the  Norman  troops, 
made  his  army  amount  to  sixty -thousand  men. 

The  king  of  France  being  a minor,  the  regent  of  the 
kingdom,  William’s  father-in-law,  favoured  the  duke’s 
levies,  both  in  France  and  Flanders;  and  the  emperor, 
Henry  IV.,  promised  to  defend  Normandy,  during  the  ab- 
sence of  the  duke;  and  thereby  enabled  him  to  draw  his 
whole  strength  to  the  attack  upon  England. 

But  the  most  important  ally  of  William,  was  pope  Alex- 
ander II.;  who  had  an  extraordinary  influence  over  the 
warriors  of  that  age;  and  foresaw  that,  if  the  French  and 
Norman  barons  were  successful  in  their  enterprise,  they 
would  carry  into  England,  which  still  maintained  some 
degree  of  independence  in  ecclesiastical  matters,  a more  de- 
voted reverence  to  the  holy  see. 

William  was  not  less  favoured  by  circumstances  which 
had  recently  occurred  in  England.  Having  quietly  disem- 
barked his  troops,  at  Pevensey,  in  Sussex,  he  removed  his 
14th  camP  where  a most  obstinate  and  sangui- 

nary  battle  was  fought,  in  which  Harold  and  his  two 
brothers  were  slain;  and  William  gained  not  only  the 
victory,  but  the  crown  of  England. 

IQY7  The  frequent  revolts  of  his  English  subjects,  were 
not  more  harassing  to  the  new  monarch,  than  the  re- 
bellion of  one  of  his  own  sons.  Unable  to  prevail  upon  his 
father  to  grant  him  the  dutchv  of  Normandy,  his  eldest  son, 
Robert,  obtained  assistance  from  the  king  of  France,  and  at- 
tacked the  castle  of  Rouen;  from  which,  he  was  repulsed,  and 
retreated  to  Gerberoy. 

Here,  he  was  soon  besieged,  by  William.  In  a sally,  made 
by  Robert,  he  unfortunately  met  his  father;  against  whom, 
without  knowing  him,  he  ran  his  lance,  which  he  had  couched, 
wounded  him  in  the  arm,  and  knocked  him  oft*  his  horse. 
But,  when  he  recognised  his  parent,  the  sentiment  of  natural 
affection  withheld  his  hand:  he  immediately  alighted,  threw 
himself  at  his  father’s  feet,  made  him  mount  his  own  horse, 
and  allowed  him  to  return  to  his  camp. 

Two  years  afterwards,  William  received  his  undutiful  son 
into  favour.  But  this  reconciliation  was  of  but  short  con- 


56 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


tinuance.  Upon  fresh  subjects  of  discontent,  or  under  new 
pretences,  the  young  prince  again  retired  from  court. 

The  conviction  of  the  king  of  England,  that  it  was 
Philip  who  fomented  the  frequent  rebellions  of  his 
son,  was  a sufficient  cause  of  displeasure,  against  this  prince; 
but,  a jest  of  the  king  of  France,  upon  the  corpulence  of  Wil- 
liam, furiously  enraged  him,  and  again  lighted  up  the  torch 
of  war.  After  having  ravaged  the  surrounding  country,  he 
laid  siege  to  the  city  of  Mante;  which  he  took,  and  reduced 
to  ashes,  without  sparing  so  much  as  a single  church. 

But  the  effects  of  his  revenge  were  fatal  to  himself.  Having 
gone  too  near  the  flames,  he  was  much  incommoded,  by  the 
heat;  and,  as  he  withdrew,  he  spurred  his  horse,  to  leap  over 
a ditch,  when  the  pummel  of  his  saddle  struck  against  his 
stomach,  and  caused  an  abscess  within  his  body;  of  which,  he 
soon  afterwards  died,  at  Rouen. 

The  conquest  of  the  English  crown,  by  the  duke  of  Nor- 
mandy, was  not  more  remarkable,  for  its  success,  than  the 
Crusades  were,  for  their  extravagance. 

Pope  Gregory  VII. , amongst  his  other  vast  ideas,  had  con- 
ceived the  project  of  uniting  the  western  Christians,  against 
the  Mahometans,  and  driving  them  out  of  Palestine.  The 
work,  however,  was  reserved  for  a meaner  instrument;  whose 
judgment  was  as  weak,  as  his  imagination  was  warm.  Chris- 
tians, from  the  earliest  ages,  had  been  accustomed  to  make 
pilgrimages  to  that  country;  where  their  religion  had  com- 
menced, and  its  founder  had  died  for  their  redemption.  But 
an  opinion,  which  now  prevailed,  that  the  Millennium,  was 
at  hand,  increased  the  number  and  the  zeal  of  the  credulous 
devotees,  who  undertook  this  arduous  journey.  A general 
consternation  seized  the  minds  of  Christians.  Many  aban- 
doned their  friends  and  families,  and  hurried,  with  precipita- 
tion, to  the  Holy  Land;  where  they  imagined  Christ  would 
suddenly  appear,  to  judge  the  living  and  the  dead.  The 
followers  and  the  countrymen  of  Mahomet,  had  given  little 
disturbance  to  those  zealous  pilgrims,  who  daily  flocked  to 
Jerusalem:  but,  when  the  Turks,  an  uncivilized  Tartar  tribe, 
who  had  embraced  the  Mahometan  creed,  had  wrested  Syria 
from  the  Saracens,  and  taken  Jerusalem,  pilgrims  were  ex- 
posed to  insufferable  outrage. 

While  the  minds  of  men  were  thus  inflamed,  a fanatical 
monk,  commonly  known  by  the  name  of  Peter  the  Hermit, 
a native  of  Amiens,  who  had  made  the  pilgrimage  to  Jeru 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


57 


Salem,  ran  from  one  province  to  another,  on  his  return, 
with  a crucifix  in  his  hand,  exciting  princes  and  people 
to  the  holy  war;  and  the  enthusiasm  of  Christendom  being 
thus  roused,  by  various  incidents,  a council  was  convoked, 
lnq-  at  Clermont,  under  the  pontificate  of  Urban  II. 5 
where  the  Crusade  was  resolved  upon,  and  the  leaders 

chosen. 

Persons  of  all  ranks  now  flew  to  arms,  with  the  greatest 
ardour.  A great  number  of  princes  and  nobles,  especially 
of  France,  and  the  countries  dependent  upon  that  kingdom, 
entered  upon  the  crusades:  so  called,  from  the  figure  of  a 
cross,  displayed  in  all  their  standards,  and  worn  upon  the 
shoulders  of  all  the  crusaders. 

The  most  illustrious,  for  his  birth,  was  Hugh,  count  of 
Vermandois,  brother  of  the  king.  Raymond,  count  of  Tou- 
louse; also,  Robert  II.,  count  of  Flanders;  Robert,  duke  of 
Normandy,  son  of  William  the  Conqueror;  and  Stephen, 
count  of  Blois,  all  vassals  of  the  crown  of  France;  joined  in 
this  expedition.  But,  of  all  the  daring  spirits  of  the  crusade, 
the  most  famous  was  Godefroy  of  Bouillon,  duke  of  the 
Lower  Lorraine;  who  was  appointed  commander-in-chief. 
1099  ^0  detail  the  long  series  of  battles  fought,  and  the 

miserable  waste  of  life  suffered,  by  those  wild  enthu- 
siasts, would  be  inconsistent  with  the  limits  of  this  brief 
chronicle  of  leading  facts.  Six-hundred-thousand  persons 
departed  from  their  homes,  in  Europe:  but  forty-thousand 
remained,  to  behold  the  city  of  Jerusalem;  and  of  these, 
only  twenty-one-thousand  were  bred  to  arms.  Opposed  to 
them,  were  forty-thousand,  within  the  city;  supplied  with 
munitions  of  war,  and  every  thing  required,  in  abundance. 

The  outer  wall  soon  yielded,  to  a general  assault.  A Ge- 
noese fleet,  which  arrived  at  Joppa,  brought  a reinforcement 
of  troops  and  warlike  engines.  As  soon  as  the  machines 
were  ready,  and  the  rolling  castles,  used,  at  that  time,  wei  e 
built,  an  attack  was  made,  upon  the  second  wall,  with  pate- 
reros,  balistas,  catapultas,  and  battering  rams.  The  assault 
lasted  till  night;  which  the  besieged  employed  in  repairing 
their  breaches,  and  the  besiegers  their  castles,  which  had 
been  damaged,  by  battering  the  city.- — The  next  morning, 
the  assault  was  renewed,  with  redoubled  fury.  But  the 
Christians,  at  length  weary  and  dispirited  with  fatigue, 
began  to  recoil;  which,  duke  Godefroy  perceiving,  he  called 
out,  with  a loud  voice,  that  the  heavens  declared  for  them, 


58 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


and  that  he  had  just  seen,  on  the  mount  of  Olivet,  a horseman, 
descending  from  the  clouds,  with  a buckler,  all  sparkling 
with  lightning;  who,  by  his  gesture,  encouraged  him  to  pursue 
his  victory;  and  the  count  of  Toulouse  made  a similar  decla- 
ration, to  the  assailants  under  his  command. 

This  artifice  had  the  desired  effect.  The  whole  army  be- 
lieved in  the  reality  of  the  vision;  not  doubting  that  it  was 
St.  George  who  promised  them  success.  Having  at  length 
gained  an  opportunity  of  driving  his  rolling  castle  against  the 
wall,  Godefroy  leaped  upon  it,  accompanied  by  several  other 
distinguished  leaders,  and  drove  the  defenders  from  the 
works. 

The  greater  part  of  the  besieged  took  refuge  in  the  citadel, 
situated  where  Solomon’s  temple  once  stood:  but  they  were 
pursued  thither,  and  so  terrible  a slaughter  followed,  that 
every  thing  swam  in  blood.  In  this  place,  alone,  ten-thou- 
sand Mahometans  were  slain. 

1099  Thus,  was  the  city  of  Jerusalem  taken,  four  years 
after  the  crusade  had  been  published  in  the  council 
of  Clermont;  and  Godefroy  of  Bouillon  was  declared  king. 

Amongst  various  other  innovations,  of  greater  importance, 
both  in  commerce  and  manners,  the  holy  wars  caused  the 
establishment  of  the  three  religious  and  military  orders  of 
knights  Hospitallers,  Templars,  and  Teuetonic  knights. 

Philip  I.  died,  at  Melun,  in  the  fifty-seventh  year  of  his  age, 
and  the  forty-ninth  of  his  reign.  He  was  well  made,  elo- 
quent, agreeable,  and  moderate,  except  in  his  pleasures  and 
amours;  to  which,  he  sacrificed  his  own  repose,  and  the  quiet 
of  his  realm. 

At  this  stage  of  our  history,  it  will  be  profitable  to  take  a 
retrospect  of  the  state  of  Europe.  During  the  ninth  and 
tenth  centuries,  the  ignorance  of  the  West  was  so  profound, 
that  the  clergy,  who  alone  possessed  the  important  secrets  of 
reading  and  writing,  became  the  arbiters  and  judges  of  nearly 
all  secular  affairs.  Every  thing  wore  the  colour  of  religion. 
“ Redeem  your  souls  from  destruction,”  says  St.  Egidius, 
bishop  of  Noyon,  6 ‘ whilst  you  have  the  means  in  your  power: 
offer  presents  and  tithes  to  churchmen;  come  more  frequently 
to  church;  implore  the  patronage  of  the  saints:  for,  if  you 
observe  these  things,  you  may  come,  with  security,  in  the 
day  of  the  tribunal  of  the  eternal  judge,  and  say,  Give  us, 
0 Lord,  for  we  have  given  unto  thee!” 

In  several  churches  of  France,  a festival  was  celebrated. 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


59 


in  commemoration  of  the  Virgin  Mary’s  flight  into  Egypt. 
It  was  called  the  Feast  of  the  Ass.  A young  girl,  richly 
dressed,  with  a child  in  her  arms,  was  placed  upon  an  ass, 
superbly  caparisoned.  The  ass  was  led  to  the  altar,  in  solemn 
procession.  High  mass  was  said,  with  great  pomp.  The 
ass  was  taught  to  kneel,  at  proper  places:  a hymn,  no  less 
puerile,  than  impious,  was  sung,  in  his  praise;  and,  when  the 
ceremony  was  ended,  the  priest,  instead  of  the  usual  words, 
with  which  he  dismissed  the  people,  brayed  three  times, 
like  an  ass;  and  the  people,  instead  of  the  usual  response, 
brayed  three  times,  in  return. 

Letters  began  to  revive  in  the  eleventh  century,  but  made 
small  progress,  until  near  its  close.  A scientific  jargon,  a 
false  logic,  employed  about  words,  without  conveying  any 
idea  of  things,  composed  the  learning  of  those  times.  From 
that  era,  we  can  trace  a succession  of  causes  and  events, 
which  contributed  to  abolish  anarchy  and  barbarism,  and  in- 
troduce order  and  politeness. 

Amongst  the  first  of  these  causes,  we  must  rank  chivalry; 
which  arose  naturally  from  the  state  of  society  in  that  age; 
and  had  a most  powerful  effect,  in  refining  the  manners  of  the 
FiUropean  nations.  The  education  of  a knight,  generally 
commenced  at  seven  or  eight  years;  for  no  true  lover  of  chi- 
valry wished  his  children  to  pass  their  time  in  idleness  and 
indulgence.  The  previous  discipline  and  solemnities  of 
initiation,  were  remarkable.  The  novice  in  chivalry,  was 
educated  in  the  house  of  some  knight,  commonly  a person  of 
high  rank,  whom  he  served,  first  in  the  character  of  a page, 
and  afterwards  of  esquire;  nor  was  he  admitted  to  the  supreme 
honour  of  knighthood,  until  he  had  given  many  striking 
proofs  of  his  valour  and  address. 

From  the  lips  of  the  ladies,  the  gentle  page  learned  both 
his  catechism  and  the  art  of  love;  and,  as  the  religion  of  the 
day  was  full  of  symbols,  and  addressed  to  the  senses,  so  the 
other  feature  of  his  devotion  was  not  to  be  nourished  alone 
by  abstract  contemplation.  He  was  directed  to  regard 
some  one  lady  of  the  court,  as  the  type  of  his  heart’s 
future  mistress;  she  was  the  centre  of  all  his  hopes  and 
wishes;  to  her,  he  was  obedient,  faithful,  and  courteous. 
While  the  young  Jean  de  Saintre  was  a page  of  honour,  at 
the  court  of  the  French  king,  the  lady  des  Belles  Cousines 
inquired  of  him  the  name  of  the  mistress  of  his  heart’s  af- 
fections. The  simple  youth  replied,  that  he  loved  his  lady 


60 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


mother;  and  next  to  her,  his  sister,  Jacqueline,  was  dear 
to  him. — “Young  man,”  rejoined  the  lady,  66 1 am  not 
speaking  of  the  affection  due  to  your  mother  and  sister;  but 
I wish  to  know  the  name  of  the  lady  to  whom  you  are  at- 
tached par  amours .” — The  poor  boy  was  still  confused; 
and  he  could  only  reply,  that  he  loved  no  one  par  amours . 
The  Dame  des  Belles  Cousines  charged  him  with  being  a 
traitor  to  the  laws  of  chivalry,  and  declared  that  such  an 
avowal  evinced  his  craven  spirit.  “ Whence,”  she  in- 
quired, 66  sprung  the  valour  and  knightly  feats  of  Launce- 
lot,  Gawain,  Tristram,  Giron  the  Courteous,  and  other 
ornaments  of  the  round  table,  besides  many  more  whom  I 
could  enumerate,  except  from  the  noble  desire  of  maintain- 
ing themselves  in  the  grace  and  esteem  of  the  ladies;  with- 
out which  spirit-stirring  sentiment,  they  must  for  ever  have 
remained  in  the  shade  of  obscurity;  and  do  you,  cowardly 
valet,  presume  to  declare  that  you  possess  no  sovereign 
lady,  and  desire  to  love  none?” 

The  persecuted  Jean  at  length  named,  as  his  mistress, 
Matheline  de  Coucy,  a child  only  ten  years  old- — “Mathe- 
line  is,  indeed,  a pretty  girl,”  observed  the  Dame  des  Belles 
Cousines;  but  what  profit,  what  honour,  what  comfort,  what 
aid,  what  council,  for  advancing  you  in  chivalrous  fame,  can 
you  derive  from  such  a choice?  You  should  elect  a lady 
of  noble  blood,  who  has  the  ability  to  advise,  and  the  power 
to  assist  you;  and  you  should  serve  her  so  truly,  and  love 
her  so  loyally,  as  to  compel  her  to  acknowledge  the  honour- 
able affection  which  you  entertain  for  her;  for,  be  assured, 
that  there  is  no  lady,  however  cruel  and  haughty,  but, 
through  long  service,  will  be  induced  to  acknowledge  and 
reward  loyal  affection,  with  some  portion  of  mercy.  ” 

The  armiger,  or  esquire,  prepared  the  refection,  in  the 
morning,  and  then  betook  himself  to  his  chivalric  exercise. 
At  dinner,  he,  as  well  as  the  pages,  furnished  forth,  and  at- 
tended at  the  table,  and  presented  to  his  lord  and  the  guests 
the  water  with  which  they  washed  their  hands,  before  and 
after  the  repast.  The  knight  and  the  squire  never  sat  at 
the  same  table;  nor  was  even  the  relation  of  father  and  son 
allowed  to  destroy  this  principle  of  chivalric  subordination. 
After  dinner,  the  squires  prepared  the  chess  tables,  or  ar- 
ranged the  hall  for  minstrelsy  and  dancing;  in  which  amuse- 
ments, they  were  allowed  to  partake;  and  the  service  of 
<ie  day  was  often  closed,  by  their  making  the  beds  of  their 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE.  61 

lords,  and  presenting  them  with  the  vin  du  couclier , oi 
sleeping-cup  of  wine. 

The  squires  of  a lord  had  each  his  respective  duties:  one 
was  the  squire  of  the  chamber,  or  the  chamberlain;  and 
another,  the  carving  squire;  but  the  most  honourable  was  he 
that  was  attached  to  the  person  of  his  lord:  he  was  called 
the  squire  of  the  body,  and  was,  indeed,  for  the  time,  the 
only  military  youth  of  his  class.  He  accompanied  his  lord 
into  the  field  of  battle,  carrying  his  shield  and  armour; 
while  the  page  usually  bore  the  helmet.  He  held  the  stir- 
rup, and  assisted  the  knight  to  arm.  There  was  always  a 
line  of  squires  in  the  rear  of  a line  of  knights;  the  young 
cavaliers  supplying  their  lords  with  weapons,  assisting  them 
to  rise,  when  overthrown,  and  receiving  their  prisoners. 

Military  exercises  were  mingled  with  the  anxieties  of  love. 
The  candidate  for  chivalry  practised  every  mode  by  which 
strength  and  activity  could  be  given  to  the  body.  He 
learned  to  endure  hunger  and  thirst,  to  disregard  the  sea- 
sons’ changes,  and,  like  the  Roman  youths  in  the  Campus 
Martius,  when  covered  with  dust  he  plunged  into  the  re- 
freshing stream.  He  accustomed  himself  to  wield  the  sword, 
to  thrust  the  lance,  to  strike  with  the  axe,  and  to  wear 
armour.  The  most  favourite  exercise  was  that  which  was 
called  the  Quintain:  being  particularly  calculated  to  practise 
the  eye  and  hand,  in  giving  a right  direction  to  the  lance. 
A half  figure  of  a man,  armed  with  sword  and  buckler,  was 
placed  upon  a post,  and  turned  on  a pivot;  so  that,  if  the 
assailant,  with  his  lance,  hit  him  not  on  the  middle  of  the 
breast,  but  on  the  extremities,  he  made  the  figure  turn  round, 
and  strike  him  an  ill  aimed  blow,  much  to  the  merriment  of 
the  spectators. 

The  ceremony  of  initiation  into  knighthood,  was  solemn. 
Severe  fastings,  and  nights  spent  in  a cnurch  or  a chapel,  in 
prayer;  confession  of  sins;  bathing,  and  putting  on  white 
robes,  as  emblems  of  the  purity  of  manners,  required  by  the 
laws  of  chivalry;  were  necessary  preparations;  and  one  of 
the  last  acts  before  inauguration,  was  the  shaving  of  the 
head,  to  make  its  appearance  resemble  the  ecclesiastical 
tonsure. 

When  the  candidate  for  knighthood,  had  gone  through 
these,  and  other  formalities,  he  fell  at  the  feet  of  the  person 
from  whom  he  expected  that  honour,  and,  on  his  knees, 
delivered  to  him  his  sword.  An  oath  was  then  administered 
F 


62 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


to  him, — 4 6 to  serve  his  prince,  defend  the  faith,  protect  the 
persons  and  reputations  of  virtuous  ladies;  and  to  rescue, 
at  the  hazard  of  his  life,  widows  and  orphans,  and  all  un- 
happy persons  groaning  under  injustice  or  oppression.”  He 
was  then  accoutred,  by  the  knights  and  ladies  who  assisted 
at  the  ceremony;  and  the  king  or  some  nobleman,  gave  him 
knighthood  or  dubbing,  by  three  gentle  strokes  of  a sword, 
on  the  shoulder,  or  with  the  palm  of  his  hand,  on  the  neck; 
saying,  4 ‘•In  the  name  of  God,  St.  Michael,  and  St.  George, 
[ make  thee  a knight!— be  thou  loyal,  brave,  and  hardy.” 

The  characteristics  of  chivalry,  were  valour  and  humanity, 
courtesy,  justice,  and  honour.  War  was  carried  on  with 
less  ferocity,  when  humanity,  no  less  than  courage,  began 
to  be  deemed  the  ornament  of  knighthood. 

Cavaliers  sometimes  took  their  title  from  the  place  where 
they  had  been  knighted.  A very  distinguished  honour  was 
to  be  called  the  knight  of  the  Mines;  which  was  to  be  ob- 
tained by  achieving  feats  of  arms  in  the  subterraneous  pro- 
cess of  a siege.  The  mines  were  the  scenes  of  knightly 
valour:  they  were  lighted  by  torches;  trumpets  and  other 
instruments  of  war,  resounded,  and  the  general  affair  of  the 
siege  was  suspended,  while  the  knights  tried  their  prowess; 
the  singularity  of  the  mode  of  combat,  giving  a zest  to  the 
encounters. 

The  lance  was  the  chief  offensive  weapon  of  a knight. 
Its  length  was  proportionate  to  the  vigour  and  address  of 
him  who  bore  it;  and  its  sharpened  head  was  fashioned 
agreeably  to  his  taste.  To  the  top  of  the  wooden  part,  was 
generally  fixed  an  ensign.  On  this,  was  marked  the  cross, 
if  the  expedition  of  the  soldier  had  for  its  object  the  Holy 
Land;  or  it  bore  some  part  of  his  heraldry;  and  in  the  lat- 
ter case,  when  the  lance  was  fixed  in  the  ground,  near  the 
entrance  of  the  owner’s  tent,  it  served  to  designate  the 
bearer. 

To  transfix  his  antagonist  with  a lance,  was  the  ordinary 
endeavour  of  a knight;  but  some  cavaliers,  of  remarkable 
hardihood,  preferred  to  come  to  the  closest  quarters,  where 
the  lance  could  not  be  used.  The  battle-axe  and  the  sword, 
which  they  therefore  often  wielded,  need  no  particular  de- 
scription. But  the  most  favourite  weapon  was  a ponderous 
steel  or  iron  hammer,  carrying  death,  either  by  the  weight 
of  its  fall  or  the  sharpness  of  its  edge.  This  hammer,  called 
a mallet,  or  mauie,  some  cavaliers  carried  at  their  saddle 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


63 


bow,  till  the  happy  moment  for  66  breaking  open  skulls” 
arrived.  A lance  could  not  execute  half  the  sanguinary 
purposes  of  Richard  Coeur  de  Lion;  and  it  was  with  a.  battle- 
axe,  as  often  as  with  a sword,  that  he  dashed  into  the  ranks 
of  the  Saracens.  * 

The  shield  was  held  in  equal  esteem,  in  chivalric,  as  in 
classic  times.  To  L#se  this  part  of  his  defensive  harness- — 
not  to  66  return  with  it,  or  upon  it,”  as  was  enjoined  by  the 
Spartan  mother,  to  her  son — was  considered  the  most  signal 
disgrace  that  could  happen  to  a knight.  Some  knights,  as 
gentle  as  they  were  brave,  adorned  their  shields  with  a por- 
trait of  their  6 6 lady-love,”  or  stamped  upon  it  “impresses 
quaint,”  with  a device  emblematical  of  their  passion. 
Knights  formed  of  sterner  stuff,  retained  their  heraldic 
insignia,  and  their  mottoes  breathed  war  and  homicide;  but 
gallant  cavaliers  showed  the  gentleness  of  their  minds;  and 
their  impressed  sentences  were  sometimes  of  plain  meaning, 
but  often er  dark  to  all,  except  to  the  knight  himself,  and  the 
damsel  by  whose  playful  wit  they  had  been  invented. 

Certainly,  all  knights  were  not  religious,  even  in  the 
sense  in  which  religion  was  understood  in  chivalric  times. 
One  cavalier  made  it  his  principal  boast,  that  he  had  burned 
a church,  with  twenty  four  monks,  its  inhabitants. 

Of  his  moral  virtues,  perfect  fidelity  to  a promise,  was 
conspicuous;  for  his  nobleness  disdained  any  compromise 
with  circumstances  or  convenience.  However  absurd  the 
vow,  still  he  was  compelled  to  perform  it,  with  the  utmost 

* This  batti3  axe  is  thus  amusingly  described,  in  the  metrical  Ro- 
mance of  Richard  Cceur  de  Lion : — 

u King  Richard,  I understand, 

Or  he  went  out  of  England, 

Let  him  make  an  axe  for  nones, 

To  breake  therewith  the  Sarasyn’s  bones, 

The  head  was  wrought  right  well, 

Therein  was  twenty  pounds  of  steel, 

And  when  he  came  into  Cyprus  land, 

The  axe  he  took  in  his  hand. 

All  that  he  hit,  he  all  to-frapped 
The  Gritfons  away  fast  rapped, 

Natheless,  many  he  cleared, 

And  their  unthanks  thereby  lived, 

And  the  prison  when  he  came  to, 

With  his  axe  he  smote  right  thro, 

Dores,  barres,  and  iron  chains, 

And  delivered  his  men  out  of  pains. 


64 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


degree  of  strictness.  Sir  Charles  du  Blois  promised  Sir 
Loyes  of  Spain,  whatever  gift  he  might  require,  for  the  ser- 
vice he  had  rendered  him.  “Then,”  said  Sir  Loyes,  “I 
require  you  to  cause  the  two  knights  that  are  in  prison,  in 
Favet,  to  be  brought  hither,  and  give  them  to  me,  to  be 
dealt  with  at  my  pleasure;  for  they  have  injured  me,  and 
slain  my  nephew.  I will  strike  off  their  heads,  before  the 
town,  in  sight  of  their  companions.” 

An  anecdote  is  recorded,  which  curiously  marks  the  man- 
ners of  the  chivalric  ages,  with  regard  to  courtesy.  The 
wife  and  sister  of  a celebrated  knight,  were  once  living  in 
a castle  which  was  attacked  and  taken  by  a body  of  Nor- 
man and  English  troops.  The  success  was  great  and  im- 
portant; but  public  indignation  was  excited  against  the 
invaders,  because  they  had  transgressed  the  license  of  war, 
and  been  guilty  of  the  uncourteous  action  of  surprising  and 
disturbing  ladies,  while  they  were  asleep. 

To  play  the  game  of  chess,  to  hear  the  minstrels’  lays, 
and  read  romances,  were  the  principal  amusements  of  the 
knight,  when  the  season  and  the  weather  did  not  permit 
hawking  and  hunting.  A true  knight  was  a chess-player; 
and  the  game  was  played  in  every  country  of  chivalry;  for, 
as  the  chivalric  states  of  midland  Europe  obtained  a know- 
ledge of  it  from  the  Scandinavians,  so  the  southern  states 
acquired  it  from  the  Arabs.  The  fondness  of  our  ancestors 
for  the  game  of  chess,  appears  by  the  frequent  mention  of 
the  amusement  in  the  ancient  romances.  Sometimes,  a 
lover  procured  admittance  to  the  place  where  his  mistress 
was  confined,  by  permitting  the  jailor  to  win  from  him  a 
game  of  chess. 

It  is  difficult  to  imagine  the  extravagant  degree  of  estima- 
tion in  which  hawks  were  held,  during  the  chivalric  ages. 
They  were  considered  as  symbols  of  high  estate;  and,  as 
such,  were  constantly  carried  about,  by  the  nobility  of  both 
sexes.  They  were  brought  even  to  places  of  public  worship; 
and,  in  the  case  of  some  individuals,  this  irreverent  practice 
seems  to  have  been  recognised  as  a right.  The  treasurer 
of  the  church  of  Auxerne,  enjoyed  the  distinction  of  assist- 
ing at  divine  service,  on  solemn  days,  with  a falcon  on  his 
hand;  and  the  lord  of  Lassai  held  the  privilege  of  perching 
his  upon  the  altar. 

The  maiden  of  gentle  birth,  was,  like  her  brother,  edu- 
cated in  the  castle  of  some  knight  or  baron,  her  father’s 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


65 


friend;  and  many  of  her  duties  were  those  of  personal  at- 
tendance. As  the  young  candidate  for  chivalric  honours, 
carved  at  table,  handed  the  wines,  and  made  the  beds  of 
his  lord;  so,  his  sister’s  care  was  to  dress  her  lady,  to  con- 
tribute, by  music  and  conversation,  to  her  amusement,  and 
to  form  a part  of  her  retinue  of  state. 

The  generous  feeling  of  cavaliers  for  ladies,  was  nobly 
requited.  In  the  wars  of  the  Guelphs  and  the  Ghibbelines, 
the  emperor  Conrad,  as  an  offended  sovereign,  had  refused 
all  terms  of  capitulation,  to  the  garrison  of  Winnisberg;  but, 
as  a courteous  knight,  he  permitted  the  women  to  depart, 
with  such  of  their  precious  effects  as  they  themselves  could 
carry.  The  gates  of  the  town  were  thrown  open,  and  a 
long  train  of  matrons,  each  bearing  a husband,  or  a father, 
or  a brother,  on  her  shoulders,  passed,  in  safety,  through 
the  applauding  camp. 

“ Ail  ladies,”  observes  one  of  the  historians  of  chivalry, 
“ were  not  of  the  opinion  of  Amadis  de  Gaul,  that  their  best 
weapons  were  sighs  and  tears.”  What  they  admired,  they 
imitated;  and  a high  spirited  damsel  would,  in  private,  di 
vest  herself  of  her  robe,  gird  around  her  a belt,  and,  draw- 
ing its  sword  from  its  scabbard,  fight  with  the  air,  till  she  was 
wearied.  The  gallant  youths  of  chivalry,  called  a lady  of 
this  martial  temperament,  66  le  bel  cavalier.”  Two  ladies  de- 
cided some  fierce  disputes  by  the  sword.  Each  summoned 
to  her  aid  a band  of  cavaliers;  and  the  stoutest  lancers  of 
Normandy  felt  no  loss  of  dignity,  in  being  commanded  by 
a woman.  The  lady  Eloisa  and  the  lady  Isabella,  rode 
through  their  respective  ranks,  with  the  address  of  expe- 
rienced leaders;  and  their  contest,  like  that  of  nations, 
was  terminated  only  by  plundering  and  burning  each  others’ 
states.  In  the  crusades,  parties  of  fair  and  noble  women 
accompanied  the  chivalry  of  Europe,  to  the  holy  land. 
Sometimes,  they  bound  up  the  wounds  of  the  combatants 
who  had  fallen  in  battle  with  the  Musselmen;  sometimes, 
they  wielded  the  flaming  sword  themselves;  the  second  cru- 
sade, in  particular,  having  been  distinguished  by  a troop  of 
ladies,  harnessed  in  glittering  armour,  and  mounted  on  fiery 
steeds.  A lady  often  wore  a sword,  even  in  times  of  peace; 
and  every  great  landed  proprietress,  sat  girded  with  her 
sword,  amongst  the  justices,  at  the  sessions  and  assizes. 

Safe  conduct,  through  hostile  lands,  was  allowed  to  those 
who  wished  to  join  in  the  tournament  or  joust.  The  silence 
v 2 


66 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


and  solitude  of  the  country,  in  those  dark  times,  were  plea- 
singly relieved  by  bands  of  jolly  and  lady-loving  cavaliers, 
with  trains  of  squires  and  pages,  riding,  to  court,  to  the  tune 
of  a merry  roundelay.  It  was  particularly  the  custom  of 
newly  made  knights,  to  attend  a tournament,  in  order  to  es- 
tablish their  prowess,  and  show  that  they  deserved  their 
spurs. 

The  scene  of  combat  was  the  lists;  a large  place,  sur- 
rounded by  ropes  or  railing.  The  lists  were  decorated 
with  the  splendid  richness  of  feudal  power.  Besides  the 
gorgeous  display  of  herald ric  insignia,  near  the  champions’ 
tents,  the  galleries,  erected  to  contain  the  proud  and  joyous 
spectators,  were  covered  with  tapestry,  representing  chi- 
valry, both  in  its  warlike  and  amorous  guise: — on  one  side, 
the  knight,  with  his  bright  faulchion,  smiting  away  hosts  of 
foes;  and  on  the  other,  kneeling  at  the  feet  of  beauty. 

The  ladies  were  the  supreme  judges  of  tournaments;  and, 
if  any  complaint  were  raised  against  a knight,  they  adjudged 
the  cause,  without  appeal.  Generally,  however,  they  de- 
puted their  power  to  a knight;  who,  on  account  of  this  dis- 
tinction was  called  the  66  Knight  of  Honour.”  He  bore,  at 
the  end  of  his  lance,  a ribbon,  or  some  other  sign  of  woman’s 
favour;  and,  with  this  badge  of  authority,  he  waved  the 
fiercest  knights  into  order  and  obedience. 

Each  knight  was  followed  by  his  squires,  whose  number 
was  generally  limited  to  three.  They  furnished  their  lord 
with  arms,  arranged  his  armour,  and  raised  him  from  the 
ground,  when  dismounted  by  his  foe.  They  also  carried 
words  of  love,  to  re-animate  the  courage  and  strength  of  the 
exhausted  cavalier;  and  a ribbon,  drawn  from  a maiden’s 
bosom,  was  often  sent  to  her  chosen  knight,  when,  in  the 
shock  of  spears,  her  first  favour  had  been  torn  from  the 
place  where  it  had  been  fixed  by  her  fair  hand. 

The  tournament  and  joust  survived  chivalry  itself,  the 
image  of  which  they  had  reflected  and  brightened.  Changes 
in  the  military  art — the  use  of  the  musket,  for  the  lance — 
did  not  immediately  alfect  manners;  and  the  world  long 
clung,  with  fondness,  to  those  splendid  and  graceful  shows, 
which  had  thrown  light  and  elegance  over  the  warriors  and 
daincs  of  old. 

When  society  was  thus  emerging  from  barbarism,  a copy 
of  Justinian’s  Pandects  was  discovered,  at  Amalfi,  in  Italy 
(in  the  year  1130;)  and  though  the  age  had  not  sufficient  taste 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


67 


to  relish  the  beauty  of  the  Roman  classics,  it  immediately 
perceived  the  merit  of  a system  of  laws,  in  which  all  the 
points  most  interesting  to  mankind,  were  settled,  with  dis- 
cernment, equity,  and  precision. 

LOUIS  VI. 

1108—1137. 

Louis  VI.,  surnamed  the  Gross,  because  of  his  great  cor- 
pulence, towards  the  end  of  his  reign,  was,  at  the  death  of 
the  late  king,  his  father,  about  twenty-nine  years  of  age. 

Similar  to  nearly  every  other  reign  that  history  presents, 
this  also  was  disturbed,  by  rebellion  and  foreign  wars.  Louis 
and  Henry  I.  of  England  having  disputed  about  the  fortress 
of  Gisors,  a defence  upon  the  frontiers  of  Normandy  and 
France,  the  former  challenged  the  finglish  monarch  to  de- 
cide the  matter,  by  duel,  on  the  bridge  that  separated  the 
two  camps:  but  Henry  treated  the  challenge  as  a bravado, 
and  trusted  to  the  fate  of  war. 

The  peace  which  followed,  after  several  indecisive  bat- 
tles, was  of  short  continuance.  The  absence  of  Robert, 
son  of  William  the  Conqueror,  with  the  crusaders,  enabled 
his  younger  brother,  Henry,  to  seize  the  crown  of  England, 
on  the  death  of  William  Rufus;  and  the  defeat  of  Robert, 
at  the  battle  of  Tenchebray,  gave  Henry  an  opportunity  of 
imprisoning  him,  and  keeping  him  incarcerated,  during  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  An  apology  was  thus  afforded  the  king 
1113  °f  France,  for  another  war.  Ever  seeking  a pretext 
for  disquieting  the  English  monarch,  with  regard  to 
his  continental  dominions,  he  encouraged  the  pretensions  of 
Robert’s  son,  William,  surnamed  Clito,  who  had  applied  to 
all  the  courts  of  Europe,  still  unable  to  procure  any  remedy 
for  his  own  bad  fortune,  or  the  deliverance  of  his  father. 

Before  the  conquest  of  England,  by  the  duke  of  Nor- 
mandy, that  kingdom  had  never  come  into  hostile  contact 
with  France.  But,  soon  after  that  event,  the  first  wars  be- 
tween the  French  and  English  commenced;  an  inevitable 
consequence  of  the  union  of  England  and  Normandy,  un- 
der one  sovereign;  as  thereby,  the  vassal  became  more 
powerful  than  his  superior  lord. 

The  armies  of  the  two  kings  engaged  on  the  plains  of 
Brenneville.  The  battle  was  obstinate  and  bloody.  At  one 
time,  Louis,  at  another,  Henry  seemed  victorious.  But, 


68 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


the  French  army  was,  at  last,  dispersed;  and  Louis,  being 
hurried  along  with  those  that  Red,  and  thrown  from  his 
horse,  was  obliged  to  escape  on  foot. 

The  king  of  England  was  at  length  freed  from  the 
pretensions  of  his  nephew.  As  William  was  be- 
sieging Alost,  he  received  a wound,  in  the  hand,  from  a 
pike;  of  which,  he,  in  a few  days  afterwards,  died. 

His  patron,  the  king  of  France,  about  this  time,  narrowly 
escaped  being  killed.  In  an  expedition  against  his  rebel- 
lious vassals,  he  was  wounded,  in  the  thigh,  by  a stone,  shot, 
out  of  a paterero,  from  the  walls  of  the  castle  of  Livri. 

Death,  however,  is  equally  certain,  to  the  monarch 
and  the  subject.  The  prince,  like  the  peasant,  must 
make  his  mortal  exit,  after  “he  has  strutted  his  hour 
upon  the  stage.  ” The  great  heats,  in  this  year,  produced 
a serious  effect  upon  the  king’s  health,  and  he  died,  on  the 
first  of  August,  in  the  sixtieth  year  of  his  age,  and  thirtieth 
of  his  reign. 

Louis  was  very  generally  regretted.  His  sincerity,  his 
zeal  for  justice,  his  liberal  views,  with  regard  to  civil  go- 
vernment, merited  that  his  subjects  should  honour  his  fu- 
neral with  their  tears. 

He  established  the  Commons,  or  Third  Estate,  by  en- 
franchising the  bondmen,  and  diminishing  the  exorbitant 
authority  of  the  lords.  He  sent  commissaries  into  the  pro- 
vinces, to  redress  the  wrongs  of  such  as  had  been  oppressed 
by  the  dukes  and  counts,  and  every  where  encouraged 
appeals  to  the  royal  judges. 

When  death  seemed  to  approach,  he  ordered  his  son  to 
be  called  to  him,  and  gave  him  the  following  excellent  ad- 
vice:— “ By  this  sign,”  said  he,  (drawing  the  signet  from 
his  finger,)  “I  invest  you  with  sovereign  authority;  but,  re- 
member, that  it  is  nothing  but  a public  employment,  to  which 
you  are  called,  by  Heaven;  and,  for  the  exercise  of  which, 
you  must  render  an  account,  in  the  other  world.” 

In  the  early  times  of  the  French  monarchy,  ecclesiastics 
and  military  men  were  the  only  people  in  the  kingdom  that 
were  free.  The  other  inhabitants  of  cities,  towns,  and  vil- 
lages, were  slaves;  though  not  in  an  equal  degree.  They 
were  divided  into  two  classes.  The  first,  called  serfs , were 
attached  to  the  soil,  and  transferred,  with  the  trees  that 
grew  on  it,  from  one  proprietor  to  another;  being  unable 
either  to  marry,  or  to  change  their  residence  or  profession, 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


69 


without  the  permission  of  their  master.  The  whole  produce 
of  their  labour,  was  his;  except  he  chose  to  release  them  from 
this  obligation,  on  condition  of  receiving  a stipulated  sum, 
at  stated  periods,  as  well  for  the  serf  himself,  as  for  his  wife 
and  children.  The  second  class,  denominated  homines  cle 
poeie , were  not  so  entirely  dependent  upon  their  lord,  who 
had  no  power  over  their  lives  or  property.  Their  servitude 
consisted  in  the  obligation  of  rendering  him  certain  duties. 
But,  neither  of  these  descriptions  of  men,  had  any  other 
judge,  than  the  lord  of  the  soil;  nor  any  other  law,  than 
what  he  chose  to  enact.  Hence,  it  was,  that  so  many  crimes 
remained  unpunished;  since  the  nobles,  themselves,  were, 
generally  speaking,  the  perpetrators  of  the  numerous  assassi- 
nations, and  other  lawless  proceedings,  so  frequent  through- 
out the  kingdom. — In  order  to  remedy  these  abuses,  and, 
at  the  same  time,  to  create  some  power,  that  might  counter- 
balance those  potent  vassals,  Louis  first  adopted  the  plan  of 
conferring  new  privileges  upon  the  towns  situated  within  his 
own  domain.  These  privileges  were  called  Charters  ^of 
Community;  by  which,  he  enfranchised  the  inhabitants, 
abolished  all  marks  of  servitude,  and  formed  them  into  cor- 
porations, or  bodies  politic,  to  be  governed  by  a council  and 
magistrates,  of  their  own  choice.  The  great  barons,  by 
degrees,  began  to  imitate  the  example  of  their  monarch. 
They  had  expended  so  immense  sums,  in  their  expedition  to 
the  Holy  Land,  that  they  eagerly  embraced  this  new  ex- 
pedient for  raising  money,  by  the  sale  of  those  charters  of 
liberty;  and,  in  less  than  two  centuries,  servitude  was  abo- 
lished, in  most  of  the  towns  of  France. 

The  kingdom  soon  felt  the  advantages  arising  from  this 
beneficial  change.  The  towns  increased  in  population;  the 
arts,  manufactures,  and  commerce,  began  to  flourish;  new 
villages  were  built;  lands,  hitherto  uncultivated,  were  ren- 
dered fertile,  and  the  emancipated  peasants  took  farms  on 
their  own  account,  and  laboured  for  themselves. 

But,  while  emancipation  was  thus  given  to  the  body, 
chains  were,  by  a very  different  description  of  individuals, 
forging  for  the  mind.  It  was  at  this  period,  that  a taste  for 
sophistry  was  introduced  into  the  schools;  where  it  passed 
from  philosophy  to  theology,  and  caused  the  discussion  of  a 
thousand  perplexing  questions,  not  less  dangerous,  than 
subtle.  There  was  not  a single  master  or  professor,  who 
taught  any  of  the  useful  sciences,  or  the  belles-lettres:  all 


70 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


who  had  pretension  to  wit,  or  boasted  of  their  understanding, 
puzzled  their  brain  with  abstract  speculations,  and  lost 
themselves  in  the  labyrinth  of  metaphysics.  The  first  who 
gave  lessons,  in  this  kind  of  new  logic,  was  Roscelin,  of 
Compeigne;  whose  pupil  and  successor  was  the  celebrated 
Abelard. 

LOUIS  VII. 

1137—1180. 

Louis  VII.  ; (frequently  called  the  Younger,  to  distin- 
guish him  from  his  father,)  after  he  had  been  a few  years  on 
the  throne,  became  involved  in  one  of  those  civil  wars,  ren- 
dered unavoidable  by  the  feudal  system;  and,  having,  in  an 
expedition  into  Champagne,  made  himself  master  of  Vitri, 
he  ordered  it  to  be  set  on  fire.  Thirteen -hundred  persons, 
who  had  taken  refuge  in  the  church,  perished  in  the  flames. 
This  unjustifiable  and  inhuman  act,  made  a deep  impression 
upon  the  king’s  mind;  and  prepared  the  way  for  a second 
crusade;  in  which,  he  himself  bore  no  inconsiderable  part. 

The  power  of  the  Christians  of  the  East,  was  gradually 
declining,  in  those  countries  which  they  had  conquered. 
One  city  had  already  been  retaken,  by  the  Turks;  and  Je- 
rusalem itself  was  threatened.  Europe  was  solicited  for  a 
new  armament:  and,  as  the  French  had  poured  forth  the 
first  inundation,  they  were  now  applied  to,  for  a second. 
1145  Pope  Eugenius  III.,  to  whom  the  deputation 
from  the  East,  had  been  sent,  appointed  Bernard, 
abbot  of  Clairvaux,  as  the  instigator  of  this  pious  warfare. 
He  had  long  enjoyed  the  reputation  of  a saint;  was  heard  as 
an  oracle,  and  revered  as  a prophet.  It  is  not,  therefore, 
surprising,  that  he  was  able  to  persuade  the  king  of  France, 
that  there  w^as  no  other  method  of  expiating  his  guilt,  than 
by  an  expedition  to  the  Holy  Land.  At  Vezelai,  in  Bur- 
gundy, a scaffold  was  erected,  in  the  market-place;  on  which, 
St.  Bernard  appeared,  by  the  side  of  Louis.  The  saint  spoke 
first:  he  w^as  seconded  by  the  king,  after  taking  the  cross; 
and  the  example  w^as  followed  by  all  present;  amongst  whom, 
were  many  of  the  chief  nobility. 

The  labours  of  this  fanatical  orator,  were  not  confined  to 
France.  He  preached  the  crusade  in  Germany,  also;  w here, 
by  the  force  of  his  impassioned  eloquence,  he  prevailed 
upon  the  emperor  Conrad  III.,  and  an  infinite  number  of 
persons,  of  all  ranks,  to  take  the  cross. 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


71 


The  Germans  entered  the  field  first;  and  were  followed 
by  the  French.  Of  the  two  nations,  there  were  reckoned 
one-hundred-alnd-forty-thousand  men,  in  complete  armour; 
and  as  many  light-horse  and  infantry,  as  swelled  this  second 
emigration  to  at  least  three-hundred-thousand  persons. 

This  romantic  expedition,  was  signally  disastrous. 

The  disadvantage  of  contending  in  a foreign  coun- 
try, again  produced  a mos  fatal  result.  The  sultan  ot 
Iconium,  drew  the  heavy  German  cavalry  of  Conrad, 
amongst  the  rocks,  and  cut  his  army  to  pieces.  Nor  was 
the  king  of  France  attended  with  better  fortune.  When  his 
army  was  nearly  all  destroyed,  being  resolved  to  die,  he 
continued  to  fight,  at  the  head  of  some  lords  and  gentlemen, 
who  had  collected  around  him,  and  had  no  hopes  of  preser- 
vation, except  in  the  approaching  night.  Left  almost  alone, 
in  the  dark,  he  climbed  a tree,  loaded,  as  he  was,  with  his 
heavy  armour;  and  thence,  to  the  top  of  a rock.  Here,  he 
was  attacked,  by  some  Mahometans,  with  arrows;  whilst 
others  ascended  the  tree,  in  order  to  surmount  the  rock. 
But  his  armour  was  proof  against  the  arrows;  and  he  made 
so  good  use  of  his  sword,  cutting  oft*  the  heads  or  arms  of  all 
who  approached  him,  that,  at  last,  they  retired,  without 
knowing  it  was  the  king. 

The  conclusion  of  the  expedition,  was,  that  both  Louis 
and  the  emperor  returned  to  Europe,  with  the  wreck  of  a 
great  army;  after  achieving  nothing  further,  than  a mere 
visit  to  Jerusalem. 

Thousands  of  ruined  families,  in  vain  exclaimed  against 
St.  Bernard,  for  his  deluding  prophecies.  He  excusetl  him- 
self, by  the  example  of  Moses;  who,  like  him,  he  said,  had 
promised  to  conduct  the  Israelites  into  a happy  country,  and 
yet  sawr  the  first  generation  perish  in  the  desert. 

The  misfortunes,  by  which  the  king  of  France  had  been 
overwhelmed,  in  Asia,  did  not  intimidate  him,  from  enter- 
ing into  fresh  wars,  on  his  return  to  Europe.  The  formida- 
ble attitude  of  Henry  II.,  of  England,  in  being  master  not 
only  of  Normandy,  but  also  of  a larger  part  of  France,  than 
was  subject  to  the  immediate  jurisdiction  of  the  king,  was 
not  the  sole  cause  of  hostilities  between  the  two  monarchs. 
There  was  another,  of  a character  more  personal.  The  ce- 
lebrated Thomas  a Becket,  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  having, 
by  his  obstinate  encroachments  upon  the  civil  authorities,  in 
England,  drawn  upon  him  the  severe  displeasure  ofJiis 


n 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


sovereign,  was  banished  from  the  kingdom,  took  refuge  in 
France,  and  was  there  received,  in  a more  friendly  and 
respectful  manner,  by  the  king,  than  Henry  desired. 

The  particulars  of  the  murder  of  this  haughty 
' * prelate,  in  his  own  cathedral,  at  Canterbury,  are  to 
be  sought  for,  rather  in  the  history  of  England,  than  of 
France.  Though  innocent  of  the  crime  of  participating  in 
that  horrid  act,  yet  Henry  found  it  expedient  to  prostrate 
himself  before  Becket’s  shrine,  and  receive  absolution  from 
the  ecclesiastics.  His  rival,  the  king  of  France,  asked  per- 
mission to  make  a pilgrimage  to  the  tomb  of  this  noted  saint, 
to  obtain  intercession  for  the  recovery,  from  a dangerous 
illness,  of  his  son  and  heir.  Louis  (as  a great  English  his- 
torian pleasantly  remarks)  probably  thought  himself  entitled 
to  the  favour  of  that  saint,  on  account  of  their  ancient  inti- 
mac y;  and  hoped,  that  Becket,  whom  he  had  protected 
while  on  earth,  would  not,  now  that  he  was  so  highly  ad- 
vanced in  heaven,  forget  his  old  friend  and  benefactor. 

The  young  prince  was  restored  to  health;  and,  as  it  was 
superstitiously  supposed,  through  the  intercession  of  Becket: 
but  the  king  himself,  soon  after  his  return,  was  struck  with 
an  apoplexy,  which  deprived  him  of  his  judgment;  and  his 
son  Philip  assumed  the  administration,  though  only  in  his 
fifteenth  year. 

1180  The  king  soon  son  s°ie  possessor  of  the  throne. 

He  died,  in  the  following  year,  at  Paris,  in  the  sixtieth 
year  of  his  age,  and  the  forty-fourth  of  his  reign;  and  was 
buried  in  the  abbey  of  Barbeau,  which  he  had  founded,  near 
Melun. 

PHILIP  II. 

1 180 — 1223. 

Philip  was  married  to  Isabella,  the  daughter  of  Baldwin, 
count  of  Hainault;  a princess  descended  from  Ermengarde, 
the  eldest  daughter  of  the  unfortunate  Charles,  duke  of 
Lorraine,  brother  to  Lothaire  the  second,  and  uncle  to 
Louis  V.  Still  revering  the  memory  of  the  Carlovingian 
princes,  the  French  derived  inexpressible  pleasure  from  this 
union  of  the  royal  families;  this  alliance  of  the  blood  of 
Charlemagne,  with  the  blood  of  Capet. 

The  first  act  of  this  young  monarch,  though  it  ill  ac- 
cords with  the  high  reputation,  to  which  he  seems  entitled, 
for  his  general  good  conduct,  was  yet  in  conformity  with 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


7$ 

the  illiberal  spirit  of  the  age.  In  the  first  year  of  his  reign, 
he  banished  the  Jews  out  of  all  his  dominions,  confiscated 
their  estates,  and  discharged  all  who  owed  them  money, 
from  their  debts;  to  indemnify  them  for  the  excessive  usuries, 
practised  upon  them,  by  that  people. 

The  period  is  not  very  remote,  when  no  interest,  what- 
ever, was  allowed,  by  law,  to  be  charged  for  the  loan  of 
money:  at  length,  a certain  rate  was  fixed,  according  to  the 
fancy  of  legislators,  at  which  it  might  legally  be  lent;  and 
this  rate  has  been  gradually  lessening,  in  a ratio,  compounded 
of  the  cotemporary  demands  of  commerce,  and  the  supply 
of  the  precious  metals.  But,  the  time  is  fast  approaching, 
when  it  will  be  confessed,  by  the  most  enlightened  govern- 
ments, that  all  interference  to  regulate  the  hire  of  money, 
is  as  irrational  and  impolitic,  as  to  fix  the  price  of  land,  or 
labour;  or  to  intermeddle  with  the  price  of  bread.  Money 
is  more  abundant,  at  some  times,  than  at  others:  it  is  of 
more  value  to  one  species  of  traders,  than  to  another;  and  it 
is  not  the  legislator,  but  existing  circumstances,  over  which 
he  can  have  no  control,  that  will,  from  time  to  time,  reduce 
to  a very  low,  or  advance  to  a very  high  degree,  the  price 
that  can  be  afforded  for  the  use  of  money. 

The  Jews  were  not  the  only  religious  sect,  against  whom 
the  sword  of  persecution  was  then  turned.  The  Albigenses, 
also,  a kind  of  sectaries,  in  the  south  of  France,  headed  by 
the  count  of  Toulouse,  became  obnoxious  to  the  pope,  be- 
cause they  neglected  the  rites  of  the  church,  and  opposed 
the  power  and  influence  of  the  clergy;  and  a crusade  was 
published  against  them,  under  the  generalship  of  Simon  de 
Montfort.  Infected  by  the  metaphysics  of  Aristotle,  which 
had  been  lately  transmitted  from  Constantinople,  Aimer" 
de  Chartres,  an  enthusiastic  of  strong  sense,  but  of  stronge 
passions,  became  the  founder  of  a new  sect,  whose  principa 
tenets  consisted  in  the  rejection  of  a Heaven  and  a Hell;  in 
maintaining  that  the  only  paradise  that  could  be  known  by 
man,  resulted  from  the  effects  of  doing  good;  and  his  only 
punishment,  from  ignorance  and  crime.  They  were  dis- 
tinguished by  the  appellation  of  The  Albigenses , either  from 
the  council  of  Albi , where  their  errors  were  anathematized, 
or  because  the  inhabitants  of  that  town  were  more  particu- 
larly infected  with  their  tenets.  Pope  Innocent  sent  two 
monks,  to  bring  the  Albigenses  to  trial;  which  was  the  first 
foundation  of  that  detestable  establishment,  the  Inquisition. 


7 4 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


But  a detail  of  the  wars,  against  the  nobles  who  espoused 
the  heresy  of  the  Albigenses,  or  of  the  many  rebellions  of 
the  king’s  vassals  against  the  royal  authority,  cannot  be  ad- 
mitted into  the  present  work. 

The  Christians,  in  the  Holy  Land,  were  now  in  a de- 
plorable condition.  Civil  wars  were  kindled  amongst 
themselves;  and  the  famous  Saladin,  emperor  of  the  Sara- 
cens, had  conquered  the  dominions  which  they  had  pos- 
sessed, in  that  country.  Louis  VII.  had  assumed  the  cross, 
to  atone  for  his  crime  at  Vitri:  Philip  now  joined  in  a cru- 
sade, to  show  his  gratitude  for  the  birth  of  a son  and  heir. 

Another  prince,  of  much  higher  renown,  in  the  field  of 
arms,  was  -his  companion  in  the  adventure.  This  was 
Richard  the  First,  of  England,  surnamed  Cceur  de  Liony 
now  sovereign  of  that  kingdom,  by  the  recent  death  of  his 
father,  Henry  II. 

1190  The  arm*es  two  monarchs  having  joined, 

at  Vezeley,  they  marched  together,  to  Lyons.  Philip 
embarked  at  Genoa,  Richard  at  Marseilles.  The  rendez- 
vous was  appointed  at  Messina;  and,  as  the  season  was  far 
advanced,  the  two  armies  wintered  in  Sicily:  but,  during 
their  stay,  there  were  serious  misunderstandings  between 
the  two  kings;  and  they  had  nearly  come  to  blows.  Though 
professed  friends,  they  were,  by  the  situation  and  extent  of 
their  dominions,  rivals  in  power;  by  their  age  and  inclina- 
tions, competitors  for  glory.  Their  disputes  were,  however, 
settled : they  sailed,  in  the  enduing  spring,  and  arrived  safely 
in  the  port  of  Acre. 

This  place,  (called  Ptolemais,  by  the  Greeks)  was  then 
besieged,  by  Guy  of  Lusignan,  king  of  Jerusalem;  and  had 
been  defended,  for  three  years,  by  the  troops  of  Saladin. 

Some  time  was  lost,  before  the  two  kings  could  agree  to 
act  in  concert.  At  length,  it  was  determined,  that  their 
attacks  should  be  alternate.  While  one  made  an  assault, 
the  other  was  to  guard  the  lines,  against  Saladin;  who,  with 
a powerful  army,  lay  within  shot  of  their  camp.  The  French 
made  the  first  attempt,  and  were  repulsed.  But,  they  at 
length  undermined  a tower;  the  fall  of  which  made  so  wide 
an  opening,  that  several  battalions  might  enter  abreast;  and 
a second  mine  having  been  sprung,  and  the  place  being  ex- 
posed to  the  attack  both  of  the  English  and  the  French,  the 
emirs  made  a signal  of  capitulation. 

Thus,  was  this  famous  siege,  which  had  so  long  engaged 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


7* 

the  attention  of  all  Europe,  brought  to  the  desired  close) 
but,  with  the  loss  of  three-hundred-thousand  men,  besides 
persons  of  superior  rank. 

Amongst  the  nobles  who  fell  on  this  memorable  occa- 
sion, on  the  part  of  the  French,  was  Ralph  de  Coucy)  who, 
being  mortally  wounded,  retired  to  his  tent,  wrote  a fare- 
well letter  to  a married  lady,  named  Du  Fayel,  of  whom  he 
was  deeply  enamoured,  and,  after  ordering  his  trusty  esquire 
to  carry  his  heart  to  the  object  of  his  love,  in  a few  minutes 
expired.  Faithful  to  the  commands  of  his  deceased  lord, 
the  gentleman  repaired  to  the  castle,  near  Acre,  where  the 
lady  resided)  at  the  gates  of  which  he  met  the  husband, 
whose  jealousy  leading  him  to  search  the  messenger,  he  found 
the  fatal  present.  Enraged  at  his  wife,  he  gave  the  heart 
of  her  lover  to  his  cook,  had  it  placed  upon  the  table  before 
her,  and,  when  she  had  feasted  on  it,  for  some  time,  the 
savage  disclosed  to  her  the  deadly  secret.  She  was  seized 
with  inexpressible  horror.  She  vowed,  that,  after  a meal 
thus  precious,  no  other  nourishment  should  ever  enter  her 
lips* — she  kept  her  word,  and,  in  a few  days  afterwards, 
expired. 

After  this  arduous  and  important  conquest,  both  the 
Christians  and  the  Mahometans  were  full  of  expectation,  as 
to  the  future  movements  of  the  crusading  troops.  Every 
thing  depended  upon  the  two  kings.  But  they  were  not 
held  very  long  in  suspense.  Ten  days  after  the  reduc- 
tion of  Acre,  the  king  of  France  declared  his  intention  of 
returning  home.  The  distemper,  with  which  he  had  been 
seized,  had  left  him  extremely  weak)  and  was  attended 
with  symptoms,  which  induced  a suspicion  of  his  being 
poisoned. 

The  king  of  England  remained  only  a year  longer,  in 
Palestine)  during  which  time,  he  gained  fresh  laurels,  by 
the  overthrow  of  the  Saracens,  especially  at  Ascalon)  where 
he  defeated  Saladin,  and  slew  forty-thousand  of  his  men. 
As  every  Christian  leader,  except  Richard  himself,  expres- 
sed a desire  of  speedily  returning  home,  there  appeared  an 
absolute  necessity,  of  abandoning,  for  the  present,  all  hopes 
of  further  conquest.  Richard  therefore  concluded  a truce 
with  Saladin.  It  was  to  continue  three  years,  three  months, 
three  weeks,  three  days,  and  three  hours)  a magical  num- 
ber, suggested  by  a superstition  (as  an  elegant  historian 
observes}  well  suited  to  the  object  of  the  war. 


76 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


Soon  after  the  conclusion  of  this  truce,  Saladin  died,  at 
Damascus.  Before  he  expired,  he  ordered  his  winding-sheet 
to  be  carried,  as  a standard,  through  every  street  of  the  city; 
while  a crier  went  before  it,  and  proclaimed,  with  a loud 
voice,  46  This  is  all  that  remains  to  the  mighty  Saladin,  the 
conqueror  of  the  East.’* 

The  jealousv,  felt  by  Richard,  of  his  brother  John  and 
the  king  of  France,  lest  they  would,  in  his  absence,  make 
an  attack  upon  his  dominions,  would,  of  itself,  have  been  a 
sufficient  cause,  to  hasten  his  return. 

His  journey  homeward  was  full  of  peril.  As  he  passed, 
in  the  disguise  of  a pilgrim,  through  the  dominions  of  Leo- 
pold of  Austria,  whom  he  had  affronted  at  the  siege  of 
Acre,  he  was  taken,  by  that  duke,  and  transferred  to  the 
custody  of  the  emperor  Henry  VI.  This  prince,  being 
Philip’s  friend,  gave  him  notice  of  Richard’s  detention,  as 
an  event  which  could  not  be  otherwise  than  pleasing.  The 
emperor  was  not  wrong  in  his  conjecture.  Philip  resolved 
to  profit  by  the  incident.  He  entered  into  a treaty,  with 
John,  the  king  of  England’s  brother:  who  did  homage  to  the 
king  of  France,  for  all  the  continental  dominions  of  the 
English  crown;  and,  according  to  some  historians,  for 
England  itself.  John  went  immediately  into  the  latter 
country;  and,  having  spread  a report,  that  Richard  had  died 
in  prison,  he  demanded  to  be  recognised  as  king:  but,  all 
the  barons  remained  faithful  to  the  absent  monarch;  and  he 
could  only  make  himself  master  of  two  castles. 

The  vindictive  enemies  of  Richard,  had  carefully  con- 
cealed, not  only  the  place  of  his  confinement,  but  even  the 
circumstances  of  his  captivity;  and  both  might  have  re- 
mained unknown,  but  for  the  grateful  attachment  of  a Pro- 
vencal bard,  or  minstrel,  named  Blondel;  who  had  shared 
that  prince’s  friendship,  and  experienced  his  bounty. 
Having  travelled  over  the  European  continent,  to  learn  the 
history  of  his  beloved  patron,  who  was  a poet,  as  well  as  a 
hero,  Blondel  gained  intelligence  of  a certain  castle,  in  Ger- 
many, where  a prisoner  of  distinction  was  confined,  and 
guarded  with  unusual  care.  The  minstrel  repaired  to  the 
place.  But  its  gates  were  shut  against  him;  and  he  could  ob- 
tain no  information,  as  to  the  name  or  quality  of  the  person 
whom  it  secured.  In  this  extremity,  he  thought  of  an  ex- 
pedient, for  making  the  desired  discovery.  He  chaunted, 
with  a loud  voice,  some  verses  of  a song,  which  had  been 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


77 


composed  parky  by  himself,  and  partly  by  Richard;  and,  to 
his  unspeakable  joy,  on  making  a pause,  he  heard  it  re- 
echoed and  continued,  by  the  royal  captive.  To  this  dis- 
covery, Richard  is  said  to  have  eventually  owed  his  release. 
The  bard  hastened  with  the  intelligence  to  England;  the 
1194  P°Pe  ^mse^  use(^  endeavours,  to  obtain  Richard’s 
° * deliverance;  a ransom  was  agreed  on;  and  this  gal- 
lant warrior  was  set  at  liberty,  after  a painful  imprisonment, 
of  more  than  eighteen  months. 

We  cannot  suppose,  that  Richard  would  easily  forgive 
the  king  of  France,  for  a captivity,  the  length  of  which,  at 
least,  was  occasioned  by  his  contrivance.  As  soon  as  Philip 
knew  that  Richard  had  concluded  his  treaty  with  the  em- 
peror, he  wrote  to  his  confederate,  John,  in  these  words: 
Take  care  of  yourself;  the  Devil  is  let  loose:9’  which 
caused  the  treacherous  brother  immediately  to  leave  Eng- 
land, and  come  to  France. 

Hostilities  soon  commenced,  between  the  two  rival  kings. 
Many  places  were  taken,  by  both  parties,  and  again  lost. 
A skirmish  occurred,  which  is  memorable,  for  the  intre- 
pidity shown  by  Philip.  He  had  come  out  of  Mante, 
to  proceed  to  Gisors,  accompanied  by  only  two-hundred 
horse.  Near  the  latter  place,  he  met  the  king  of  England, 
followed  by  several  thousand  troops.  He  was  advised  to 
return;  but  the  king,  looking  with  indignation  on  the  officer 
who  had  made  the  proposal, — 66 1,”  said  he,  66  return,  and 
fly  from  the  king  of  England!- — -Whoever  has  a mind,  let 
him  follow  me;  and,  with  me,  either  conquer,  or  gloriously 
die.”— Then,  charging  furiously  upon  the  enemy’s  squad- 
rons, he  broke  through  them;  and,  throwing  down  all  that 
opposed  him,  he  reached  Gisors,  by  one  of  the  happiest 
strokes  of  presumption,  that  were  ever  practised. 

In  the  following  year,  the  king  was  beaten,  by  Richard, 
in  two  engagements;  one,  near  Vernon,  the  other  between 
Mante  and  Gisors.  At  the  latter  place,  he  had  nearly  been 
killed.  When  on  the  bridge,  followed  by  the  runaway 
crowd,  whom  the  English  closely  pursued,  it  broke  down, 
the  king  fell  into  the  river,  and  would  have  been  drowned, 
as  many  others  were,  had  he  not  been  immediately  as- 
sisted. 

The  bishop  of  Beauvais,  a martial  prelate,  and  cousin- 
german  to  the  king,  having  been  taken  in  battle,  Richard, 
who  hated  him  for  having  been  the  means  of  increasing  the 
g 2 


78 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


rigour  of  his  confinement,  in  Germany,  threw  him  into 
prison,  and  loaded  him  with  irons:  and,  when  the  pope  de- 
manded his  liberty,  and  claimed  him  as  his  son,  the  English 
monarch  sent  to  his  holiness  the  coat  of  mail,  which  the 
bishop  had  worn  in  battle,  all  besmeared  with  blood;  ac- 
companied by  the  words  employed  by  the  sons  of  Jacob,  to 
their  father — 6 6 This,  have  we  found;  know  whdfher  it  be 
thy  son’s  coat,  or  not!” 

1199  Philip  was  soon  afterwards  freed  from  his  formi- 
dable opponent.  When  Richard  was  besieging  the 
castle  of  Chalus,  near  Limoges,  an  archer,  belonging  to  the 
garrison,  called  Bertrand  of  Gourdon,  let  fly  an  arrow  at 
him,  that  struck  him  in  the  arm,  and  gave  him  a wound; 
which,  through  the  ignorance  of  his  surgeon,  became  mortal . 
Richard,  however,  ordered  the  castle  to  be  stormed,  and  it 
was  quickly  taken.  He  then  directed  that  all  the  garrison 
should  be  hanged,  except  the  person  by  whom  he  had  been 
wounded;  reserving  him,  as  some  historians  think,  for  a 
punishment  more  severe. 

A few  days  afterwards,  his  recovery  being  despaired  of, 
he  sent  for  Gourdon,  and  thus  addressed  him:  u Wretch, 
what  have  I done  to  thee,  to  make  thee  kill  me?”—  “ What 
have  you  done  to  me!”  calmly  replied  Gourdon.  “ I’ll  tell 
you: — you  have  killed  my  father  and  my  two  brothers,  with 
your  own  hands;  and  you  intended  to  hang  myself.  I am 
now  in  your  power:  be  revenged  of  me,  as  you  please.  I 
am  ready  to  suffer  the  sharpest  torments,  provided  I may 
have  the  pleasure  of  hearing  that  you  die  by  my  hands;  you 
that  have  done  so  much  mischief  in  the  world.” 

The  conduct  of  the  dying  monarch  was  heroic.  He  com- 
manded that  Gourdon’s  chains  should  be  taken  off,  and  said 
only  these  few  words:  “ Friend,  I forgive  you.”  He  then 
ordered  him  to  be  set  at  liberty,  and  gave  him  a sum  of 
money.  But  the  generous  intentions  of  the  prince,  were 
defeated.  He  was  seized,  by  one  Marcade,  a chief  of  the 
Brabancons,  (a  sort  of  banditti,  at  that  time  employed,  in 
their  armies,  by  the  continental  sovereigns,)  who  had  him 
flayed  alive,  and  hanged,  as  soon  as  the  king  expired. 

As  Richard  left  no  issue,  he  was  succeeded  by  his  bro- 
ther John. 

1 The  succession  was  disputed  by  Arthur,  duke  of 
" ' Brittany,  son  of  John’s  elder  brother,  Geoffrey;  and 

the  barons  of  Anjou,  Maine,  and  Touraine,  declared  in  fa- 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


7 9 


vour  of  this  young  prince.  He  was  aided  also  by  the  king 
of  France;  whose  enmity  to  the  English,  was  uniformly  in- 
veterate, by  whatever  monarch  they  were  governed;  and 
every  thing  promised  success,  when  Arthur  was  unfortu- 
nately taken  prisoner,  by  his  uncle  John,  and  inhumanly 
murdered. 

From  that  moment,  John  was  detested  by  his  subjects, 
both  in  England  and  on  the  continent.  Philip,  as  his  supe- 
rior lord,  (in  relation  to  his  continental  dominions)  sum- 
moned him  to  be  tried  before  himself  and  his  peers;  and, 
on  his  non-appearance,  he  was  declared  guilty  of  murder 
and  parricide,  and  all  his  foreign  domains  were  declared 
forfeited  to  the  crown  of  France. 

1204  The  executi°n  of  this  sentence,  was  not  difficult. 

Philip  not  only  gained  possession  of  Normandy, 
but  successively  reduced  Anjou,  Maine,  Touraine,  and  a 
part  of  Poictou. 

Thus,  was  Normandy,  the  richest  and  most  fertile  pro- 
vince in  all  the  French  dominions,  reunited  to  the  crown  of 
France,  about  three  centuries  after  the  first  cession  of  it,  by 
Charles  the  Simple.  During  that  time,  it  had  been  governed 
by  sixteen  dukes.  “ Rollo,  the  Dane,”  says  Megeray,  « who, 
from  a barbarian,  became  a Christian  and  a virtuous  man, 
was  the  first;  and  John,  who,  from  a Christian,  became 
more  wicked  than  either  an  infidel  or  barbarian,  was  the  last.” 

But  the  most  powerful  enemy  of  the  degraded  monarch, 
was  the  pope.  By  him,  he  was  excommunicated;  not  for 
his  many  crimes,  but  for  his  interference  in  the  church- 
government  of  England. 

As  the  last  sentence  could  not  be  executed,  without  an 
armed  force,  the  pontiff  fixed  upon  the  French  king,  into 
whose  hands  he  could  most  safely  intrust  so  terrible  a 
weapon:  and  he  offered  to  that  monarch,  besides  the  re- 
mission of  all  his  sins,  the  kingdom  of  England,  as  the  re- 
ward of  his  labour. 

Although  he  thereby  ratified  an  authority,  which  might 
one  day  hurl  him  from  his  throne,  Philip  accepted  the  libe- 
ral offer  of  the  pope.  A decisive  action  was  soon  expected, 
between  the  two  kings;  but  the  pope  artfully  tricked  them 
both,  by  inducing  the  king  of  England  to  surrender  to  him 
his  crown.  Philip  was  informed,  that  he  must  relinquish 
all  thoughts  of  attacking  England,  as  it  was  then  a fief  of 
the  church  of  Rome.  He  was  enraged  at  this  intelligence. 


80 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


He  swore  that  he  would  not  be  duped,  by  such  hypocritical 
pretences;  nor  would  he  have  desisted  from  his  enterprise, 
but  for  more  weighty  reasons.  His  fleet  was  nearly  de- 
stroyed, by  the  English  navy;  and  the  emperor  Qtho  II.  had 
entered  into  an  alliance  with  his  uncle,  the -king  of  England, 
and  the  count  of  Flanders,  in  order  to  oppose  the  designs  of 
France,  now  become  formidable  to  the  rest  of  Europe. 

1214  Philip,  however,  advanced,  undismayed,  to  meet 
his  enemies,  with  an  army  of  forty -thou sand  men. 
The  force  of  Qtho,  consisting  chiefly  of  English  and  German 
troops,  doubled  that  of  Philip.  The  two  armies  met  near 
the  village  of  Bouvines,  between  Lisle  and  Tournay,  where 
the  allies  were  totally  routed,  and  thirty -thousand  Germans 
are  said  to  have  been  slain. 

In  this  battle,  the  king’s  life  was  seriously  endangered. 
A German  battalion  broke  through  his  troop,  and  surround- 
ed him.  He  defended  himself,  for  a long  time,  and  killed 
several  of  the  enemy,  with  his  own  hand.  The  royal  stand- 
ard-bearer, raising  himself  upon  his  stirrups,  waved  it  up 
and  down,  without  ceasing,  as  a signal  of  the  king’s  danger, 
who  was  now  reduced  to  the  last  extremity.  The  assailants 
attacked  scarcely  any  person,  except  Philip.  They  aimed 
their  blows  at  him,  on  all  sides;  which,  his  management, 
his  strength,  and  the  goodness  of  his  armour,  happily  warded 
off;  until  a German  soldier,  with  one  of  those  short  javelins 
having  a hook  on  each  side  of  the  point,  struck  at  his  throat. 
A kind  of  collar,  worn  by  the  king  underneath,  broke  the 
force  of  the  blow,  and  prevented  a wound:  but  the  hooks 
being  entangled,  between  the  cuirass  and  that  part  of  the 
helmet  which  goes  under  the  chin,  the  soldier  drew  with  all 
his  might,  pulled  the  king  off  his  horse,  and  laid  him  upon 
the  ground. 

The  king  immediately  arose,  but  he  could  not  extricate 
himself  from  the  soldier.  The  emperor,  who  was  near  the 
place,  galloped  thither,  in  haste,  to  run  him  through;  and 
the  king  had  certainly  been  killed,  if,  at  the  moment  of  his 
fall,  some  lords  aiid  gentlemen  had  not  made  a way  with 
their  swords,  through  every  thing  that  opposed  them,  and 
opened  for  him  a passage.  The  soldier  was  either  killed  or 
driven  away;  and  a fresh  horse  being  given  to  the  king,  he 
was  enabled  to  escape. 

1 °16  Pwo  years  after wards,  king  John  of  England  died, 
at  the  castle  of  Newark,  in  the  forty-ninth  year  of 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


81 


his  age,  after  a most  disgraceful  reign  of  eighteen  years; 
being  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son,  Henry  III.,  then  only 
nine  years  old. 

^ ^ In  the  month  of  July,  of  this  year,  Philip  was 

seized  with  a quartan  ague;  of  which  he  died,  at 
Mante,  when  holding  an  assembly  of  the  barons  and  pre- 
lates of  the  kingdom,  in  the  fifty-ninth  year  of  his  age,  and 
forty -fourth  of  his  reign. 

Philip  (surnamed  Augustus,  by  some  historians,)  is  al- 
lowed to  have  been  the  ablest  prince,  that  had  wielded  the 
sceptre  of  France,  since  the  reign  of  Charlemagne.  But, 
we  must  not  be  so  far  dazzled  by  the  splendour  of  his 
conquests,  as  to  be  blind  to  his  moral  defects.  Though  his 
mind  was  capacious  and  enterprising,  his  bad  qualities  were 
many,  and  his  virtues  few. 

Before  the  time  of  Philip,  the  kings  of  France  had  been 
less  powerful  than  some  of  their  subjects;  to  so  narrow  a 
compass,  were  the  royal  demesnes  reduced.  But  the  regal 
power  has  always  since  been  increased,  in  proportion  to  the 
decay  of  the  feudal  barons;  who  were  oppressors  of  the  peo- 
ple, and  disturbers  of  the  public  peace. 

Philip  enlarged  the  boundaries  of  the  capital,  adorned  it 
with  several  churches,  erected  in  a style  of  Gothic  magnifi- 
cence; particularly  the  cathedral  of  Notre  Dame,  which  he 
rebuilt;  was  a patron  of  the  polite  arts,  and  bountiful  to  the 
University  of  Paris,  the  students  of  which,  in  his  reign, 
equalled,  in  number,  all  the  rest  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
city;  and  caused  several  of  its  streets,  for  the  first  time,  to 
be  paved. 

The  Prove^al  poets  were  justly  celebrated,  at  this  pe- 
riod, in  most  of  the  countries  of  Europe-  They  were  called 
also  Troubadour s,  or  Finder s,  from  the  fertility  of  their  in- 
vention. They  were  invited  to  the  courts  of  the  greatest 
princes;  where  they  were  respected  equally  by  the  brave 
and  the  fair,  as  they  celebrated  the  achievements  of  the  one, 
and  the  charms  of  the  other.  They  were  named  Provencal 
poets,  because  they  inhabited  chiefly  the  southern  provinces 
of  France,  comprehended  under  the  name  of  Provence;  and, 
because  the  language  of  this  district,  at  that  time  the  purest 
dialect  of  the  French  language,  was  common  to  them  all. 
The  troubadours  imparted  to  it  new  charms,  and  more  ex- 
tended fame.  Dispersed  through  most  of  the  courts  of 
Europe,  they  created  a relish  for  their  compositions,  and 


82 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


gave  a celebrity  to  their  language,  almost  as  great  as  the 
best  modern  productions  have  given  to  our  own.  Italy, 
Spain,  England,  and  even  Germany,  listened  to  these  Am- 
phions;  admired,  and  attempted  to  imitate  them;  and  thus 
promoted  the  reformation  and  refinement  of  the  language  of 
these  several  countries. 

Nothing  was  more  honourable  to  the  troubadours,  than  to 
have  the  Italians  for  their  disciples;  who  not  only  equalled, 
but  surpassed  their  masters.  At  the  end  of  the  thirteenth 
century,  Dante  raised  the  Italian  language  to  perfection;  and, 
from  that  time,  it  took  the  lead  of  the  Provencal.  Petrarch 
then  appeared,  love  inspired  his  muse,  and  he  poured  forth, 
in  the  very  country  of  the  troubadours,  numbers  so  eloquent 
and  melodious,  that  their  language,  their  poetry,  and  their 
name,  almost  entirely  disappeared. 

The  compositions  of  the  troubadours,  may  be  divided  into 
the  gallant,  the  historical,  the  didactic,  and  the  satirical. 
The  last  are  the  most  valuable,  as  they  explain  the  manners, 
and  corrected  the  vices  of  the  times.  The  didactic  pieces 
are  few,  but  curious:  some  of  them  comprehend  the  maxims 
of  universal  morality;  others,  instructions  relative  to  the 
different  conditions  of  society,  to  the  candidates  in  chivalry, 
to  the  ladies,  the  poets,  and  the  jongleurs. 

The  first  troubadour,  on  record,  was  William,  count  of 
Poitou;  who  flourished  about  the  beginning  of  the  eleventh 
century.  He  united  figure,  ability,  and  courage,  to  the 
advantages  of  birth  and  fortune;  but  he  degraded  them  all, 
by  the  extreme  licentiousness  of  his  manners.  Indeed,  the 
language  of  nearly  all  the  bards  of  the  same  school,  betrays 
an  impurity  of  real  or  affected  feeling,  wholly  dissonant  from 
the  chastened  sentiments  and  manners  of  the  present  age. 

Geoffry  Rudel  was  prince  of  Blaye,  a town  near  Bour- 
deaux.  This  troubadour  was  distinguished  by  a passion, 
most  singularly  romantic. — Tripoli,  in  Palestine,  had  been 
taken  by  the  Christians,  when  the  fame  of  the  Countess  of 
Tripoli  warmed  the  imagination  of  Rudel.  From  the  re- 
presentation given  of  her  beauty  and  her  virtue,  by  the  pil- 
grims who  returned  from  the  east,  he  was  transported  by 
the  most  ardent  desire  of  beholding  her;  and  therefore  took 
the  cross,  and  embarked.  But,  just  as  he  was  about  to  land, 
at  Tripoli,  he  fell  down,  to  all  appearance,  dead;  and  was 
laid  m the  first  house  they  reached,  by  the  companions  of 
bis  voyage.  They  ran  to  inform  the  Countess,  of  an  event 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


83 


so  calculated  to  excite  her  compassion.  The  affection  of 
Geoffrey,  the  motive  and  the  circumstances  of  his  voyage, 
and  his  unhappy  destiny,  just  as  lie  touched  the  port,  pe- 
netrated the  soul  of  one  so  full  of  sensibility,  who,  un- 
known to  herself,  had  lighted  up,  at  so  great  a distance,  so 
ardent  and  wonderful  a llame.  She  came  out,  immediately, 
to  behold  this  victim  of  romantic  love.  Geoffrey  yet  breathed. 
She  embraces  him:  he  fixes  his  eyes  on  her,  and  then,  lift- 
ing them  up  to  heaven,  with  joy,  expires  in  her  arms  1 

The  Countess  had  him  magnificently  buried,  amongst  the 
Knights -templars,  at  Tripoli;  and,  the  same  day,  whether 
from  grief  or  piety,  devoted  herself  to  the  cloister. 

Peter  d’Auvergne  was  the  son  of  a citizen,  in  the  diocese 
of  Clermont.  A talent  for  poetry,  joined  to  a fine  figure, 
an  amiable  character,  and  a cultivated  mind,  procured  him 
much  success:  many  high  barons,  and  noble  ladies,  treated 
him  with  favour;  and  he  passed  for  the  best  writer  amongst 
the  troubadours,  till  the  appearance  of  Gerald  Borneil 
D’Auvergne  was  so  well  received,  by  the  ladies,  that,  after 
reciting  his  works  to  them,  he  was  rewarded  with  a kiss, 
from  those  who  pleased  him  the  most. 

Arnaud  Daniel  was  born,  in  the  twelfth  century,  in  the 
castle  of  Ribeyrac,  in  Perigord,  of  poor,  but  noble  parents. 
His  taste  was  not  for  study,  but  he  was  passionately  fond  of 
rhyming.  Dante  says,  that  Arnaud  excelled  in  singing  the 
praise  of  love;  and  that  his  tender  verse,  and  his  romantic 
prose,  surpassed  every  thing  that  had  appeared  before,  of 
the  same  kind.  Petrarch  speaks  of  him  as  the  most  cele- 
brated of  all  the  Provencal  poets:  he  even  imitated,  and 
borrowed  a verse  from  one  of  his  sonnets;  the  only  Pro- 
vencal to  whom  he  has  done  that  honour. 

Most  of  his  pieces  are  sonnets,  addressed  probably  to  the 
wife  of  William  de  Bouville,  whom  he  admired.  4t  The  re- 
turn of  spring,”  he  says,  in  one  of  these,  44  invites  my  song, 
and  the  enamel  of  the  meadows  animates  it,  with  all  the 
gay  and  beautiful  variety  of  the  flowers:  but  the  flowers 
that  I gather,  shall  have  love  for  their  fruit,  as  they  have 
joy  for  their  grain;  and  their  perfume  shall  surpass  that  di- 
vine odour,  which  the  month  of  May  spreads  over  the  mea- 
dows! I love  the  most  beautiful  woman  in  the  world!  I 
have  frequented  many  courts;  the  pleasure  I receive  from 
gay  tents,  refreshing  alcoves,  and  magnificent  balconies, 
where  the  ladies  sit  to  assist  at  the  tournaments,  bears  no 


84 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


proportion  to  my  joy  in  beholding  her.  I have  masses  said, 
and  lamps  and  tapers  burned,  to  render  her  propitious;  for 
she  is,  next  to  God,  the  object  of  my  worship.  My  love  is 
shut  up  within  my  heart;  and  she  who  inspires  it,  knows  it 
not.  Alas!  how  should  she  ? When  at  a distance,  I have 
a hundred  things  to  say;  when  I approach  her,  I know  not 
where  to  begin.  I sigh  in  vain!  I pursue  her  with  the 
swiftness  of  a hare;  yet  my  approach  is  like  the  slow  and 
heavy  steps  of  an  ox.  ” 

Arnaud  composed  the  airs  for  his  songs;  for  which  rea- 
son, he  has  been  included  amongst  the  jongleurs;  whose 
profession  it  was  to  sing  the  pieces  of  the  troubadours:  but 
the  jongleurs  were  sometimes  also  poets,  as  is  evinced  from 
the  following  curious  anecdote: — 

In  a voyage,  made  by  Arnaud,  into  England,  he  met,  at 
the  court  of  the  king,  a jongleur,  who  challenged  him  to  try 
his  skill  with  him,  in  the  composition  of  some  verses.  “ You 
pique  yourself,”  said  his  rival,  66  on  excelling  in  difficult 
rhymes: — let  us  see  which  of  us  can  perform  the  best.” — 
The  challenge  was  accepted,  the  wager  laid,  and  the  two 
bards  shut  themselves  up,  in  separate  chambers.  The  king 
had  given  them  ten  days,  for  the  composition,  and  five  to 
learn  their  pieces;  after  which  they  were  to  be  sung  or  re- 
cited in  his  presence. — On  the  third  day,  the  jongleur 
announces  that  he  is  prepared.  Arnaud  affects  to  be  diverted 
at  this;  saying,  that,  for  his  part,  he  has  not  given  himself 
the  trouble  to  set  about  the  work.  He  had,  however,  la- 
boured, but  could  not  compose  a line. 

One  evening,  in  despair  at  this  unexpected  failure,  he 
heard  the  jongleur  repeating,  with  a loud  voice,  in  his  cham- 
ber: the  same  thing  happened  on  the  following  days;  he 
listened  attentively,  and  at  last  made  himself  master,  both 
of  the  air  and  the  words. — On  the  day  appointed,  they  appear- 
ed before  the  king.  Arnaud  desires  to  sing  the  first.  What 
was  the  astonishment  of  the  jongleur!  66  It  is  my  song,”  he 
cried  out,  interrupting  the  poet.  46 That  cannot  be,”  said 
the  king.— The  jongleur,  however,  insists  upon  it,  and  con- 
jures the  king  to  question  Arnaud;  assuring  him,  that  he 
will  not  have  the  impudence  to  deny  the  fact.  The  trouba- 
dour was  charged  with  the  imposture,  and  confessed  the 
fraud.  This  adventure  amused  the  king;  who,  after  having 
restored  to  each  the  money  which  he  had  staked,  loaded 
them  both  with  presents;  but  exacted  from  Arnaud  a song. 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


85 


Savary  was  a rich  baron  of  P orton,  lord  of  Mauleon,  and 
of  several  other  fiefs.  He  was  a brave  and  gallant  knight;  re- 
nowned for  poetry,  for  his  skill  in  tournaments,  and  for  his 
taste  and  elegance  at  all  public  diversions.  A visit  paid  by 
this  lord,  to  Madame  Guillemette  de  Benevias,  in  company 
with  two  other  lords,  was  the  foundation  of  a dialogue  on 
three  different  proofs  of  love,  and  on  which  of  them  deserved 
the  preference. 

Each  of  these  lords  had  besought  the  love  of  Madame 
Guillemette.  Being  seated,  one  at  her  right  hand,  the  other 
at  her  left,  and  the  third  before  her;  she  eyed  the  one  with 
tenderness,  pressed  the  hand  of  the  other,  and  touched  the 
foot  of  Savary;  giving  him,  at  the  same  time,  a kind  and 
gracious  smile.  Savary  went  to  his  two  friends,  Gancelm 
Fardit,  and  Hugues  de  Bacalaria,  and  desired  they  would 
resolve  him,  to  which  of  the  three  the  lady  had  shown  the 
most  affection. — 66 1 think,”  replied  Gancelm,  66  to  him  who 
received  the  tender  look:  that  always  arises  from  the  soul. 
The  pressure  of  the  hand  is  a courtesy  which  belongs  to  all 
those  who  are  politely  received;  and  to  touch  the  foot,  may 
arise  from  accident,  and  is  no  proof  of  love.” — 6 6 In  my 
opinion,”  said  Hugues,  “ the  look  is  of  no  signification;  for 
kind  looks  are  addressed  to  all,  as  well  as  to  those  whom 
they  foolishly  intrap.  Nor  do  I attach  any  importance  to 
touching  the  foot:  but,  when  a white  hand,  without  glove, 
presses  tenderly  its  friend,  this  is  a certain  proof  of  the 
love  that  proceeds  from  the  heart.” — “ I rejoice,”  exclaim- 
ed Savary,  66  that  you  have  left  me  the  best  proof  of  love. 
To  touch  the  foot,  is  a favour  of  the  highest  kind,  because 
hidden  from  the  penetration  of  others;  and,  being  accompa- 
nied with  a gracious  smile,  it  is  assuredly  a proof  of  a frank 
and  sincere  affection.  I am  astonished,  that  Gancelm  pre- 
fers the  look;  he  who  has  the  reputation  of  being  so  skilful 
in  the  art  of  love.” — “You  do  ill,”  rejoined  Gancelm,  “to 
slight  the  tenderness  of  looks.  The  eyes  are  the  messen- 
gers of  the  soul;  they  announce  to  those  beloved,  what  a 
fond  timidity  would  conceal  from  others:  they  are  the  de- 
positories of  the  whole  treasures  of  love,  and  will  be  under- 
stood, by  hearts  united  in  affection.” 

These  gallant  amusements  were  the  serious  occupations 
of  heroes  and  poets,  in  that  age.  In  another  fragment  of 
Savary,  he  thus  singularly  expresses  himself,  to  his  mis- 
tress:— 


II 


86 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


“ Lady,  you  have  conquered  all  the  world.  It  is  the 
height  of  my  ambition,  to  conquer  you.  I have  assembled 
Basques  and  Brabaneons;  and  thanks  to  my  care,  we  are 
live-hundred  in  number,  who  will  punctually  execute  your 
orders.  Explain  your  wishes;  give  us  your  commands. 
Our  coursers  are  ready  bridled:  we  will  mount  them  in- 
stantly, in  your  cause.” 

Folquet  de  Lunel  is  known  chiefly  by  his  satire  on  per- 
sons in  the  various  conditions  of  life.  “No  longer,”  says 
this  troubadour,  “do  we  behold  emperors,  kings,  priests, 
dukes,  counts,  or  barons,  serving  God!  The  recovery  of 
the  holy  sepulchre,  is  now  wholly  neglected,  and  the  Turks 
remain  the  peaceable  possessors  of  Jerusalem! — By  excom- 
munications, priests  gain  the  summit  of  their  wishes.  The 
emperor  exercises  injustice  against  the  kings;  the  kings 
against  the  counts;  the  counts  despoil  the  barons;  the  ba- 
rons seize  the  possessions  of  their  vassals,  and  pillage  their 
peasants.  The  farmers  and  the  shepherds,  in  their  turns, 
commit  frauds  and  injustice,  and  pay  not  the  daily  wages 
of  their  labourers.  Physicians  take  upon  themselves  a pro- 
fession, of  which  they  are  ignorant;  they  kill,  while  they 
pretend  to  cure,  and  yet  they  oblige  men  to  pay  them  for 
their  slaughter.  Merchants  and  artists  are  thieves  and 
liars.  Jongleurs  run  about  the  world,  to  spread  abroad  their 
false  histories.  Innkeepers  address  you  with  civility,  and 
make  haste  to  serve  you;  the  hostess  is  full  of  complaisance; 
the  servants  are  attentive  to  your  minutest  orders;  you 
agree  that  they  shall  partake  of  your  provision;  you  furnish 
them  with  geese,  partridge,  excellent  meats,  white  bread, 
and  unmixed  wine.  In  return,  they  sell  you  bad  hay,  and 
rotten  corn,  and  take  care  to  give  you  only  half  measure. 
Besides  this,  their  mangers  are  pierced  through  with  holes, 
and  what  is  put  in  to  them,  for  your  horses,  runs  through  to 
their  pigs,  who  are  enjoying  a comfortable  meal,  at  your  ex- 
pense, while  you  are  sleeping  in  hard  beds,  and  dirty  sheets; 
and  after  all  this,  you  are  overwhelmed  with  injuries,  if  you 
do  not  pay  a double  price  for  the  things  set  down  to  your 
account. 

“ Ye  heretics;  ye  Vaudois;  ye  usurers;  ye  unfaithful  de- 
positories; ye  infidel  blasphemers;  ye  defrauding  watermen 
and  toll-gatherers,  who  restore  not  to  your  masters,  what 
you  have  received  for  them;  ye  bailiffs,  who  unjustly  seize 
the  little  all  of  the  poor;  ye  unworthy  borrowers,  who  pay 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


87 


not  again,  but  live  on  the  property  of  others; — against  you 
all,  do  I lift  up  my  voice:  fear  the  pains  of  hell;  and  think 
of  the  joys  of  paradise.” 

William  de  la  Jour  was  born  in  the  castle  of  la  Jour,  in 
Perigord.  Love  turned  his  head,  and  the  account  given  of 
him  seems  to  be  that  of  a madman.  The  object  of  his  pas- 
sion, was  a barber’s  wife,  at  Milan.  She  was  young  and 
handsome:  he  carried  her  off,  and  brought  her  to  Come. 
Soon  after  this,  she  died;  which  affected  him  with  so  violent 
grief,  that  it  deprived  him  of  his  reason.  He  was  persuaded 
that  she  was  not  dead;  for  ten  days,  he  remained  fixed  to 
her  tomb.  He  opened  it  every  night;  he  drew  her  out;  he 
looked  earnestly  at  her;  he  embraced,  he  kissed  her!  He 
conjured  her  to  tell  him,  whether  she  was  dead  or  alive;  to 
return  with  him,  if  she  lived;  or,  in  case  she  were  dead,  to 
declare  to  him  what  she  suffered  in  purgatory;  for  he  would 
then  bestow  so  many  alms,  and  have  so  many  masses  said 
for  her  soul,  that  he  would  purchase  her  deliverance. 

Informed  of  his  madness,  the  inhabitants  of  Come  ex- 
pelled him  from  their  town,  and  from  their  country.  He 
wandered  from  place  to  place,  seeking,  every  where,  for  as- 
trologers, to  know  from  them  whether  his  mistress  could  be 
restored  to  life.  One  of  them  made  a sport  of  his  wretched 
condition,  and  assured  him  that  she  would  infallibly  rise 
again,  if  he  recited,  each  day,  for  a year,  the  whole  psalter, 
with  five-hundred  paters  and  aves,  and  gave  alms  to  seven 
poor  people;  but  that  he  must  do  all  this,  each  day,  before 
he  either  eat  or  drank.  The  miserable  man  was  in  ectasies, 
at  this  discovery,  and  punctually  executed  the  prescribed 
conditions;  but,  finding  himself  no  nearer  his  wishes  at  the  f 
end  of  the  year,  than  at  the  beginning,  he  died,  in  despair. 

Peter  Yidal  might  justly  be  called  the  Don  Quixotte  of 
the  troubadours.  He  was  the  son  of  a tanner,  at  Toulouse. 
Born  with  a poetic  talent,  and  a melodious  voice,  he  soared 
above  his  situation,  and  engaged  in  that  career  of  genius, 
which,  in  this  age,  was  so  advantageous.  His  love  of  the 
fair  sex  was  his  principal  inducement  to  this  course  of  life.  He 
admired  every  beautiful  woman,  and  with  a presumption  not 
uncommon,  he  believed  himself  to  be  equally  admired  by  her. 
His  behaviour  to  the  greatest  lords,  was  full  of  extravagance, 
and  led  them  to  consider  him  an  agreeable  fool,  formed  for 
the  amusement  of  their  courts.  In  the  first  part  of  his  life, 
he  received  a terrible  lesson,  from  a knight  of  Saint  Gilles; 


88 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


of  whose  wife,  Vidal  having  spoken  lightly,  the  knight  re- 
venged himself,  by  slitting  the  poet’s  tongue.  But  a noble- 
man feeling  compassion  for  him,  had  the  garrulous  minstrel 
cured.  Some  time  afterwards,  he  followed  Richard  I.  king 
of  England,  into  Palestine;  where  his  bravadoes  where 
those  of  a madman.  “ My  enemies,”  says  he,  “ tremble  at 
my  name,  the  earth  shakes  at  my  steps,  and  all  that  oppose 
me,  I bruise  and  cut  to  pieces.” 

While  Vidal  was  thus  boasting  of  his  prowess,  a singular 
trick  was  played  upon  him,  in  Cyprus.  His  companions 
induced  him  to  marry  a young  Greek,  pretending  that  she 
was  niece  to  the  emperor  of  the  east,  and  that  to  her  the 
empire  would  be  transferred.  In  this  design  on  his  vanity, 
they  completely  succeeded.  They  beheld  him  usurp  the 
title  of  emperor,  give  that  of  empress  to  his  wife,  and  in- 
vest himself  with  the  insignia  of  imperial  rank.  But  being 
wearied  with  acting  a part,  which  he  at  length  discovered  to 
be  fictitious,  he  returned  to  his  native  country,  and  engaged 
in  another  adventure,  in  which  he  appeared  completely 
mad. 

Smitten  with  a lady  of  Carcassone,  called  Louve  de  Pen- 
antier,  he  caused  himself  to  be  called  Loup,  or  Wolf,  in  her 
honour;  and  engaged  himself  to  submit  to  all  the  perils  of 
being  hunted  in  a wolf’s  skin,  for  her  sake.  In  this  dis- 

fuise,  the  shepherds,  with  their  mastiffs  and  greyhounds, 
rove  him  into  the  mountains;  and,  so  cruelly  was  he  man- 
gled— for  he  would  not  suffer  the  dogs  to  be  taken  off,  till 
they  had  almost  killed  him— that  they  carried  him  home, 
as  dead,  to  his  mistress:  The  lady  and  her  husband  at- 

tended to  his  cure,  but  they  ridiculed  his  lamentable  folly. 
Nor  were  these  all  his  extravagances.  On  the  death  of  his 
lord,  Raymond  count  of  Toulouse,  he  exhibited  unparallel- 
led proofs  of  his  affection.  He  dressed  himself  in  the  deepest 
mourning,  cut  off  the  ears  and  tails  of  his  horses,  and  his 
own  hair,  suffered  his  beard  and  his  nails  to  grow  to  an  im- 
moderate length,  and  required  the  same  marks  of  distress 
from  all  his  servants. 

The  remainder  of  Vidal’s  career,  displayed  a similar  tis- 
sue of  romantic  madness.  In  the  last  years  of  his  life,  he 
was  more  excited,  than  ever,  with  a desire  of  possessing  the 
empire  of  the  east;  he  made  a second  voyage  for  that  pur- 
pose, and  died,  in  the  year  1229,  two  years  after  his  re- 
turn. 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


m 


The  Monk  of  Montaudon  was  born  of  a noble  family  of 
Auvergne,  in  the  castle  of  Vie.  Weary  of  the  cloister,  he 
obtained  permission,  from  his  superior,  to  repair  to  the 
court  of  the  king  of  Arragon,  to  receive  the  commands  of 
that  prince.  This  was,  in  fact,  being  allowed  to  become  a 
troubadour.  From  the  court  of  Arragon,  he  travelled  into 
Spain;  where  he  continued  several  years,  and  obtained 
many  honours  and  rewards.  His  gallant  poems  are  only 
repetitions  of  the  fervour  and  distinctions  of  love;  but,  in 
some  other  pieces,  he  paints  his  own  character  and  feelings, 
and  those  of  others,  with  ingenuity  and  freedom. 

44  I love,”  says  he,  44  a court  filled  with  persons  of  worth; 
a man  who  is  ashamed  of  and  repents  of  his  sins;  joy,  good 
cheer,  and  handsome  presents.  I love  fine  fat  salmon,  at 
noon;  an  amiable  mistress  by  the  side  of  a purling  stream; 
and  a dear  friend  every  where.  I hate  small  gifts;  a poor 
and  proud  knight;  young  people  who  talk  much  and  loud; 
and  the  society  of  low  people  and  uncourteous  knights. 
I hate  a lord  who  wears  arms  to  no  purpose;  a monk  and  a 
priest  with  great  beards;  and  a husband  who  doats  on  his 
wife.  I hate  too  much  water,  and  too  little  wine;  and  the 
priest  who  perjures  and  lies.  I hate  those  who  speak  ill  of 
dice,  and  who  will  not  engage  in  play;  and  a damsel  who 
makes  a parade  of  her  handsome  foot.  I hate  a large  table, 
and  a scanty  cloth,  a man  who  marries  his  maid,  and  a 
woman  who  espouses  her  valet.  But,  above  all,  do  I hate 
a baron  who  rides  his  horses  to  death;  and  a friend  who 
fails  in  the  time  of  need.” 

A further  idea  may  be  formed  of  the  manners  of  the  age, 
from  a ridiculous  and  impious  ceremony,  which  had  been 
hitherto  tolerated,  not  only  in  the  church  of  Paris,  but  in 
several  other  cathedrals  of  the  kingdom.  In  the  capital,  it 
was  called  64  The  Fools’  Festival” — in  other  places,  44  The 
Festival  of  the  Innocents.”  The  priests  and  clerks  assem- 
bled, elected  a pope  and  a bishop,  whom  they  conducted, 
in  great  pomp,  to  the  church;  where  they  appeared  arrayed 
in  different  whimsical  dresses,  representing  women,  animals, 
or  buffoons;  and  dancing,  and  singing  obscene  songs.  They 
converted  the  altar  into  a sideboard;  where,  during  the 
celebration  of  mass,  they  eat  and  drank,  played  at  dice, 
burned  their  old  sandals,  instead  of  incense,  and  ran  and 
jumped  about,  exhibiting  a variety  of  indecent  postures. 
h 2 


90 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


LOUIS  VIII., 

SURNAME!)  THE  LION. 

1223—1226. 

Louis  VIII. , who  ascended  the  throne  in  the  thirty-se- 
venth year  of  his  age,  distinguished  himself  more  during  the 
reign  of  his  father,  than  in  his  own.  The  valour  and  abili- 
ties, shown  by  him,  in  numerous  engagements  in  England, 
whither  he  had  been  sent,  to  aid  the  barons  against  king  John, 
afforded  strong  evidence  of  his  possessing  the  qualities  of  a 
great  prince.  But  his  reign  extended  little  beyond  three 
years;  and  its  history  is  only  a repetition  of  battles  and  sieges, 
in  defence  of  Normandy,  and  the  other  continental  territo- 
ries wrested  from  the  crown  of  England  by  his  father;  and 
of  wars  carried  on  against  the  Albigenses. 

It  was  at  the  commencement  of  this  reign,  that  pope 
Honorius  III.  confirmed  the  celebrated  order  of  the  Mi- 
nors, the  first  mendicants;  distinguished  by  the  appellation 
of  Cordeliers , from  the  cord  which  they  wore  round  their 
waist. 

LOUIS  IX., 

COMMONLY  CALLED  SAINT  LOUIS. 

1226—1270. 

The  late  king  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  Louis  IX., 
commonly  called  St.  Louis;  now  only  in  his  thirteenth 
year. 

During  his  minority,  various  disorders  arose,  in  France, 
occasioned  chiefly  by  the  ambition  of  the  powerful  vassals 
of  the  crown:  but  all  these  were  happily  composed,  by  the 
prudence  and  abilities  of  the  queen-mother,  Blanche  of 
Castile. 

1 229  By  ^ie  ex^or^a^ons  °f  ^le  P°Pe>  ttm  regent  was 
induced  to  send  a body  of  troops  into  Languedoc, 
against  the  Albigenses.  The  war  was  then  renewed,  with 
additional  vigour;  and  conducted,  by  the  king’s  general, 
Beaujeu,  in  a manner  worthy  of  the  cause  in  which  he  had 
embarked.  Every  morning,  at  the  dawn  of  day,  the  troops 
attended  mass,  and  prayed  most  devoutly:  they  then  par- 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


91 


took  of  a slight  repast,  and  three  separate  detachments  were 
sent,  to  scour  the  country.  The  first  were  armed  with  pick- 
axes,  for  the  purpose  of  demolishing  the  houses;  the  second, 
with  spades,  for  digging  up  the  vines;  and  the  third,  with 
scythes,  for  mowing  down  the  green  corn,  and  every  thing 
else  that  they  met  with  in  the  fields;  a system  of  destruc- 
tion, regularly  pursued  in  the  environs  of  Toulouse,  for 
three  months. 

The  count  of  Toulouse  was  at  length  compelled  to  listen 
to  overtures  of  peace.  The  terms  imposed  upon  him  were 
oppressive:  but,  abandoned  by  his  subjects,  he  was  obliged 
to  submit;  and  to  purchase  an  exemption  from  ecclesiasti- 
cal tyranny  and  persecution,  by  the  payment  of  consider- 
able sums  of  money,  to  monasteries  and  churches,  and  the 
cession  of  his  hereditary  dominions,  to  the  king  of  France. — 
Thus,  terminated  the  crusade  against  the  Albigenses,  after 
a cruel  and  sanguinary  war  of  twenty  years. 

Every  layman  was,  by  a recent  edict,  forbidden  to  keep 
either  the  Bible  or  Testament  in  his  house;  and  was  permit- 
ted to  have  only  the  Psalter,  the  Breviary,  or  the  Book  of 
Prayers,  in  Latin,  but  not  in  the  vulgar  tongue. 

No  sooner  had  Louis  reached  the  years  of  manhood,  than 
he  was  universally  acknowledged  to  be  the  greatest  prince 
in  Europe:  but  his  character  is  perhaps  the  most  singular 
to  be  found  in  history.  To  the  abject  superstition  of  a monk, 
he  united  not  only  all  the  courage  and  magnanimity  of  a 
hero,  but  the  justice  and  integrity  of  a sincere  patriot;  and, 
when  religion  was  not  concerned,  the  mildness  and  hu- 
manity of  a true  philosopher. 

Menry  III.,  an  imbecile  prince,  was,  at  this  time,  king 
of  England;  and  encouraged  the  vassals  of  the  French 
crown,  in  frequent  rebellions.  Of  these,  one  of  the  most 
restless  was  the  duke  of  Brittany;  who,  when  the  English 
monarch,  employed  at  home,  by  disputes  with  his  own  sub- 
jects, could  no  longer  aid  him  in  his  revolts,  threw  himself 
at  his  sovereign’s  feet,  with  a rope  about  his  neck,  imploring 
mercy,  and  declaring  that  he  surrendered  to  him  all  his  do- 
minions, and  also  his  own  person,  to  be  punished  as  the  king 
should  direct. 

1944  The  rigid  adherence  of  Louis,  to  orthodoxy,  was 
his  foible.  Persuaded  that  heretics,  or  those  who 
did  not  hold  the  established  belief  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
church,  deserved  the  punishment  of  death,  he  favoured  the 


95 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


tribunal  of  the  inquisition;  and  the  same  disposition  of  mind, 
led  him  to  ascribe  merit  to  a war  against  infidels.  A dange 
rous  illness  having  deprived  him  of  his  senses,  and  almost 
of  his  life,  he  made  a vow,  as  soon  as  he  recovered,  to  engage 
in  a new  crusade;  and  immediately  assumed  the  cross. 

Though  he  could  not  be  dissuaded  from  the  ex- 
pedition, he  was  in  no  hurry  to  depart.  He  spent 
four  years,  in  making  preparations,  and  in  settling  the  go- 
vernment of  his  kingdom,  which  he  left  to  the  care  of  his 
mother. 

It  was  decreed,  at  a parliament  held  at  Paris,  that  all 
private  wars  should  cease,  during  five  years;  that  no  process 
should  be  instituted  against  the  crusaders,  on  account  of 
debt,  for  the  term  of  three  years;  and  that  the  clergy  should 
pay  one-tenth  of  their  revenues  to  the  king.  This  last  re- 
gulation excited  great  murmurs,  amongst  the  clergy;  who 
had  hitherto  highly  applauded  the  crusade;  and  were  par- 
ticularly offended  at  the  tax  being  levied  by  the  commis- 
sioners of  the  pope.  One  of  these  ministers  of  extortion, 
meeting  a vid age-clerk,  with  some  pieces  of  bread,  which 
he  had  collected  in  carrying  holy  water  from  house  to  house, 
requested  to  know  how  much  his  profits,  in  that  occupation, 
amounted  to,  in  a year;  and,  being  told  that  they  produced 
about  twenty  sols,  he  immediately  insisted  on  the  payment 
of  two  sols,  for  the  pope;  with  which  demand,  the  poor  man 
was  obliged  to  comply. 

At  length,  with  a fleet  of  eighteen-hundred  vessels,  the 
king  bent  his  course  to  Cyprus;  accompanied  by  his  queen, 
his  three  brothers,  and  nearly  all  the  knights  of  France. 

At  Cyprus,  it  was  resolved  to  make  a descent  upon  Egypt; 
as  it  was  supposed  that  the  Holy  Land  could  not  be  preserved 
to  the  Christians,  while  that  country  was  in  possession  of 
the  Mahometans.  A flattering  ray  of  success  shone  upon 
his  first  attempt.  The  soldiers,  in  the  ship  which  bore  the 
Oriflamme,  or  standard  of  St.  Dennis,  leaped  out  upon  the 
ground:  the  king  seeing  that  banner  on  the  bank,  could  not 
restrain  himself,  but  threw  himself  into  the  sea,  sword-in- 
hand; and  the  knights  and  his  troops  did  the  same.  He 
landed  near  Damietta;  which,  contrary  to  all  expectation, 
the  garrison  and  inhabitants,  terrified  by  a false  report  of 
the  sultan’s  death,  had  abandoned.  He  made  his  entry  into 
the  city,  in  the  manner  of  a procession,  barefooted,  with  the 
queen,  his  brother,  and  all  the  nobles  of  the  army;  preceded 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


9$ 


by  the  legate  of  the  pope,  bearing  an  elevated  cross  the 
patriarch  of  Jerusalem,  the  bishops,  and  all  the  clergy  of 
the  camp. 

He  afterwards  received  fresh  succours  from  France,  and 
found  himself  in  the  plains  of  Egypt,  at  the  head  of  sixty- 
thousand  men;  the  flower  of  his  kingdom,  by  whom  he  was 
both  obeyed  and  loved.  But  “ the  battle  is  not  always  to 
tHe  strong.”  This  crusade,  like  the  two  by  which 

0 it  had  been  preceded,  ended  in  sorrow  and  dis- 
appointment. One  half  of  these  fine  troops,  fell  a prey  to 
debauchery  and  sickness;  the  remainder  was  defeated,  by  the 
sultan,  at  Massoura;  where  Louis  beheld  his  brother  Robert 
of  Artois,  killed,  by  his  side,  and  himself  taken  prisoner, 
with  his  two  other  brothers,  the  counts  of  Anjou  and  Poic- 
tiers,  and  all  his  nobles. 

In  this  battle,  extraordinary  valour  was  displayed,  on 
both  sides.  The  Mahometans  were  in  hopes  of  surprising 
the  camp  of  Louis;  but,  before  they  reached  it,  the  king 
having  been  informed  of  their  intention,  by  his  scouts,  had 
formed  his  army  in  order  of  battle,  near  the  camp.  At 
noon,  the  Mahometans  sounded  the  charge,  with  drums  and 
trumpets.  A flight  of  a prodigious  number  of  darts  and 
arrows,  was  sustained,  with  much  resolution,  by  the  Christian 
soldiers:  but  they  were  disconcerted  by  the  wild-fire,  which 
they  had  not  before  seen  used,  in  battles.  It  enwrapped  in 
flame  the  men’s  clothes,  and  the  caparisons  of  their  horses; 
of  which,  the  troopers  were  no  longer  masters.  The  terrible 
cries  of  those  who  were  burning,  were  every  where  to  be 
heard;  the  Mahometans  took  advantage  of  this  confusion, 
and  put  nearly  all  the  invaders  to  the  rout. 

The  French,  however,  were  still  in  possession  of  Damietta. 
There,  the  queen  lodged;  but,  thinking  her  safety  doubttul, 
as  the  place  was  besieged,  she  addressed  herself  to  the  Sieur 
Joinville,  a venerable  knight,  and  made  him  promise,  on  the 
faith  of  chivalry,  to  cut  off  her  head,  should  her  person  be 
in  danger  of  insult. — “ Most  readily,”  answered  Joinville, 
in  the  true  spirit  of  the  times,  66  will  I perform,  at  your  re- 
quest, what,  indeed,  I designed  to  do,  of  myself,  should  it 
be  made  necessary,  by  misfortune.” — But,  he  had  happily 
no  occasion  to  execute  his  promise.  Damietta  was  main- 
tained, and  a treaty  was  concluded,  with  the  sultan;  by 
which,  that  city  was  restored,  in  consideration  of  the  king’s 


94 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


liberty,  and  a thousand  pieces  of  gold,  paid  for  the  ransom 
of  the  other  prisoners. 

A The  zeal  of  Louis,  against  the  Mahometans,  M as 
not  cooled,  by  his  calamity  in  Egypt.  Religious 
devotion  led  him  to  Palestine;  where  he  continued  three 
years,  without  effecting  any  thing  of  importance.  But  the 
death  of  the  queen-mother,  determined  him,  at  length,  to 
return  to  France. 

His  love  of  justice,  his  care  to  reform  abuses,  his  wise 
laws,  and  virtuous  example,  soon  removed  the  evils  occa- 
sioned by  his  absence.  He  prohibited  private  wars,  which 
the  feudal  anarchy  had  cherished;  substituted  judicial  pro- 
cess, for  the  superstitious  mode  of  trial  by  duel;  and,  no 
less  enlightened  than  pious,  rescued  France  from  the  ex- 
actions of  the  court  of  Rome. 

We  have  spoken  of  the  justice  of  the  king  of  France. 
When  not  excited  by  the  bigotry  of  the  age  in  which  he 
lived,  this  character  is  true:  but  surely  no  man  can  strictly 
be  called  just,  who  uses  violence  against  another,  because 
he  differs  from  him  in  religious  faith.  This  charge  stands 
recorded  against  Louis.  Hoping  to  make  a convert 
of  the  king  of  Tunis,  he  landed  on  the  coast  of  Africa, 
at  the  head  of  his  troops.  But  the  Tunisian  prince  refused 
to  become  a Christian;  the  French  troops  were  seized  with 
an  epidemic  distemper;  of  which,  Louis  saw  one  of  his  sons 
expire,  and  another  at  the  point  of  death;  when  he  himself 
caught  the  infection,  and  died,  in  the  fifty-sixth  year  of  his 
age,  and  the  forty -fourth  of  his  reign. 

Louis  had  no  sooner  resigned  his  breath,  than  the  sound 
of  trumpets  announced  the  arrival  of  the  king  of  Sicily,  his 
brother.  Astonished  to  find  his  salute  unanswered,  Charles 
began  to  be  alarmed;  and,  leaving  his  troops  to  the  care  of 
his  officers,  he  galloped  towards  the  royal  tent;  where,  the 
first  object  that  presented  itself  to  his  sight,  was  the  corpse 
of  his  brother,  extended  on  those  ashes,  which  the  pious 
monarch  had  chosen  for  his  death-bed. 

The  remains  of  Louis  were  conveyed  to  Paris;  and, 
twenty-seven  years  afterwards,  he  was  canonized  by  pope 
Boniface  VIII. 

We  have  already  noticed  the  strict  attention  of  Louis,  to 
a prompt  and  partial  administration  of  justice.  He  greatly 
encouraged  the  practice  of  appeals,  and  frequently  admin  is- 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


95 


tered  justice,  with  all  the  ancient  simplicity,  in  person.  “I 
have  often  seen  the  saint,”  says  Joinville,  66  sitting  under 
the  shade  of  an  oak,  in  the  wood  of  Vincennes;  when  all 
who  had  any  complaint,  freely  approached  him.  At  other 
times,  he  gave  orders  to  spread  a carpet  in  a garden;  and, 
seating  himself  upon  it,  heard  the  causes  that  were  brought 
before  him.” 

A poor  priest  came  one  day  to  this  monarch  when  he  was 
at  his  devotions  in  the  church,  and  told  him  that  the  bailiffs 
were  about  to  arrest  him  for  a sum  which  he  was  unable  to 
-pay.  The  king  immediately  ordered  him  the  money,  saying, 
66  You  have  very  luckily  chosen  the  time  to  address  me.  It 
is  but  just,  that  I should  show  some  compassion  to  the  dis- 
tressed, when  I have  been  entreating  God  to  have  some 
compassion  on  myself.” 

A poor  woman  complained  one  day  to  Louis,  that  the 
priests  would  not  inter  her  husband  in  holy  ground,  because 
he  had  died  insolvent.- — 64  Good  woman,”  said  he,  I did  not 
make  the  law,  I assure  you.  Here  is  some  money,  to  pay 
your  husband’s  debts,  and  1 will  order  the  priests  to  bury 
him  as  you  wish.” 

Louis,  as  we  have  before  mentioned,  abolished  the  absurd 
and  barbarous  custom  of  trial  by  combat,  and  introduced 
the  trial  by  evidence,  in  its  stead.  But  his  regulations, 
with  respect  to  this,  were  confined  to  his  own  domains.  The 
great  vassals  of  the  crown,  possessed  so  independent 
authority,  and  were  so  fondly  attached  to  the  ancient 
practice,  that  he  durst  not  venture  to  extend  it  to  the  whole 
kingdom. 

In  order  to  stop  the  encroachments  of  the  pope,  and  the 
licentious  conduct  of  his  ministers,  Louis  issued  that  famous 
ordonnance,  so  well  known  by  the  name  of  the  Pragmatic 
Sanction.  In  this,  he  confirmed  the  prelates  and  all  the 
patrons  of  livings,  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  their  rights;  se- 
cured the  liberties  of  the  Gallican  church,  from  the  invasions 
of  the  court  of  Rome;  banished  simony  from  the  kingdom, 
as  a pest  highly  injurious  to  religion;  and  forbade  the  court 
of  Rome  to  levy,  in  future,  any  of  those  imposts  which  had 
impoverished  the  kingdom,  without  his  express  permission, 
and  the  consent  of  the  Gallican  church. 

Two  orders  of  monks,  both  mendicants,  were  settled  at 
Paris,  during  this  reign.  The  famous  college  of  the  Sor- 
bonne,  was  also  established,  for  the  study  of  theology,  by 


96 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


an  ecclesiastic,  named  Robert,  of  obscure  parents,  (the  con- 
fessor of  St.  Louis)  who  resided  at  Sorbonne,  a small  village, 
in  the  Rhetelois. 

PHILIP  III. 

1270 — 1285. 

After  the  death  of  the  late  monarch,  on  the  coast  of  Af- 
rica, his  son  and  successor,  Philip  III.,  (surnamed  the 
Hardy)  having  defeated  the  Tunisians,  concluded  with  them 
a treaty  of  peace;  and  thus,  saved  the  shattered  remains  of 
the  French  army. 

This  was  the  sixth  and  last  of  those  wild  expeditions, 
which,  during  a period  of  one-hundred-and-seventy-four 
years,  had  disturbed  the  peace  both  of  Asia  and  Europe;  and 
drained  France,  of  more  than  two-millions  of  inhabitants. 

Twenty-one  years  afterwards,  (in  1291)  the  sultan  Calib 
took  the  city  of  Acre,  the  firmest  rampart  of  the  eastern 
Christians,  by  assault;  and,  soon  after  the  reduction  of  that 
important  place,  the  crusaders  were  easily  and  finally  ex- 
pelled from  the  Holy  Land.  Palestine  was  abandoned  to 
the  Saracens;  and  the  wretched  enthusiasts,  who  had  left 
their  native  homes,  in  quest  of  imaginary  glory,  were  now’ 
constrained  to  wander,  destitute  and  forsaken,  over  the  face 
of  the  earth,  in  search  of  those  real  comforts,  which  they 
had  vainly  sacrificed  to  visionary  hopes. 

After  Philip’s  return  to  France,  his  reign  was  not  mark- 
ed by  any  great  event;  being  spent  chiefly  in  humbling  the 
refractory  nobles  in  the  southern  provinces;  and  in  unim- 
portant wars,  with  the  kings  of  Castile  and  Arragon. 

He  died,  at  Perpignan,  in  the  forty -first  year  of 
his  age,  and  the  sixteenth  of  his  reign. 

PHILIP  IV., 

Surnamed  the  Fair. 

1285—1314. 

The  reign  of  Philip  IV.,  surnamed  the  Fair,  who  sue- 
ceeded  his  father,  Philip  the  Hardy,  in  his  eighteenth  year 
and  was  crowned  king  of  Navarre,  in  right  of  his  wife- 
forms  an  era  in  the  History  of  France,  by  the  civil  and  po 
litical  regulations  which  it  produced;  the  institution  of  the 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


97 


supreme  tribunals,  called  Parliaments;  and  the  formal  ad- 
mission of  the  Commons,  or  Third  Estate,  into  the  general 
assemblies  of  the  nation;  a right  which  had  existed  amongst 
the  ancients  Franks. 

The  composing  of  all  differences  with  his  neighbours, 
Philip  was  enabled  to  effect,  by  the  mediation  of  his  broth- 
er-in-law, Edward  I.,  of  England;  against  whom,  however, 
he  afterwards  ungenerously  commenced  hostilities,  while 
that  monarch  was  engaged  in  a war  with  Scotland. 

This  rupture  with  the  English  nation,  was  caused  by  an 
incident  of  but  trifling  importance.  A Norman  and  an 
English  vessel  met,  off  the  coast,  near  Bayonne;  and  both 
having  occasion  for  water,  they  sent  their  boats  ashore,  and 
the  several  crews  came,  at  the  same  time,  to  the  same 
spring.  A quarrel  ensued,  when  a Norman,  drawing  his 
dagger,  attempted  to  stab  an  Englishman;  who,  grappling 
with  him,  threw  his  adversary  upon  the  ground,  and  the 
Norman,  as  was  pretended,  falling  upon  his  own  dagger, 
was  slain.  This  scuffle  between  two  seamen,  about  water, 
soon  kindled  a destructive  war  between  the  two  countries, 
and  involved  a great  part  of  Europe  in  the  quarrel.  The 
mariners  of  the  Norman  ship,  carried  their  complaints  to 
the  French  king;  and  Philip,  without  inquiring  into  the  fact, 
or  demanding  redress,  bade  them  take  revenge,  and  trouble 
him  no  more  about  the  matter.  The  Normans  needed  only 
this  hint,  to  proceed  to  immediate  violence.  They  seized 
an  English  ship,  in  the  channel;  and,  hanging,  along  with 
some  dogs,  several  of  the  crew,  on  the  yard-arm,  dismissed 
the  vessel,  and  bade  the  mariners  to  inform  their  country- 
men, that  vengeance  was  now  taken  for  the  murder  of  the 
Norman. 

We  must  not  pass  over,  unnoticed,  the  transactions  be- 
tween Philip  and  the  court  of  Rome;  nor  the  extinction  of 
the  celebrated  order  of  knights  templars,  which  happened 
in  this  reign. 

1303  P°pe  Boniface  VIII.  had  prohibited  the  clergy 
° * from  granting  any  subsidies  to  princes,  without  his 

leave.  Philip  thought  that  the  clergy,  being  the  richest 
order  in  the  state,  should  contribute  to  the  wants  of  the 
crown,  without  any  application  to  Rome:  he  therefore  en- 
countered the  pope’s  bull,  by  an  edict,  forbidding  any  of 
the  French  clergy  from  sending  money  abroad,  without  the 
royal  permission.  There  was  accordingly  despatched,  to 


98 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


France,  a legate;  who  threatened  the  kingdom  with  an  in- 
terdict, and  the  king  himself  with  excommunication:  but 
Philip,  despising  the  papal  thunder,  ordered  him  to  be  con- 
fined, and  assembled  the  states  of  the  kingdom;  by  whom, 
his  conduct,  in  this  delicate  matter,  was  approved. 

The  king  was  now  at  liberty  to  treat  the  pope  as  an  open 
enemy.  He  accordingly  leagued  with  the  family  ol  Cologna; 
a oody  of  desperadoes  were  suddenly  collected,  in  Italy; 
with  which,  AVilliam  and  Sciara  Cologna  surprised  Boniface, 
at  Anagni,  a town  in  his  dominions,  exclaiming,  u Let  the 
pope  die,  and  long  live  the  king  of  France!  5 Boniface, 
however,  did  not  lose  his  courage.  Having  dressed  him- 
self in  his  cope,  and  put  the  tiara  upon  his  head,  holding 
the  keys  in  one  hand,  and  the  cross  in  the  other,  he  pre- 
sented himself,  with  an  air  of  majesty,  before  his  conqueioi ; 
a gallant  behaviour;  which  had  such  an  effect  upon  the  minds 
of  the  inhabitants,  that  they  rose  against  his  enemies,  and 
rescued  him  from  their  hands.  ^ 

A reconciliation  was  soon  afterwards  effected,  between 
Boniface  and  Philip.  He  granted  the  avaricious  monarch  a 
tenth  of  the  revenues  of  the  clergy,  for  three  years;  and, 
farther  to  gratify  him,  he  canonized  his  ancestor,  Saint 
Louis,  after  sixty -three  miracles  had  been  duly  verified:  ua 
canonization,”  says  the  pope,  in  one  of  his  panegyrics  upon 
that  monarch,  “ which  produced  more  writings,  than  an  ass 
could  carry.” 

The  next  pope,  Benedict  XI.,  was  of  a disposition  oppo- 
site to  that  of  Boniface.  That  pontiff  was  succeeded  by 
Clement  V.,  a native  of  France;  who  removed  the 
1 308‘  seat  of  the  papal  government,  from  Rome,  to  Avignon, 
where  it  continued  during  a period  of  sixty-eight  years.  * 

To  the  cause  assigned  for  this  removal,  we  do  not  willing- 
ly give  credence.  Some  historians  have  made  no  scruple 
to  ascribe  it  to  the  pope’s  attachment  to  the  countess  of  Pe- 
rigord,  daughter  of  the  count  de  Foix;  a lady  of  exquisite 
beauty,  from  whom  he  could  not  bear  to  part. 

The  usual  dress  of  the  men,  in  these  times,  was,  the  long 
tunic,  with  a robe  or  cloak,  and  sometimes  both,  over  it.  the 
short  jacket,  except  in  camp,  being  confined  to  servants. 
The  cloak,  particularly  when  trimmed  with  fur,  was  worn 
only  by  persons  of  a certain  rank.  It  was  fastened  with  a 


* Until  1376. 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE 


99 


Clasp,  on  the  right  shoulder,  so  as  to  allow  full  liberty  to  the 
right  arm;  was  tucked  up,  on  the  left  side,  above  the  sword, 
and  hung  loose  behind,  as  low  as  the  ground. — The  different 
classes  of  the  nobility,  were  distinguished  by  the  breadth  of 
the  border  of  their  cloaks,  by  the  quality  of  the  fur  or  ermine 
with  which  it  was  trimmed,  the  size  of  the  cape,  and  length 
of  the  train.  The  cloak  of  a duke,  count,  baron,  or  kniglit, 
was  made  of  scarlet  or  violet  cloth.  Hats  were  not  yet 
known.  Caps  were  worn,  of  velvet,  or  of  cloth:  the  first, 
which  were  laced,  were  confined  to  kings,  princes,  and  knights. 
Over  the  cap,  was  worn  a kind  of  hood,  with  a cushion  at 
the  top,  and  a tail  hanging  down  behind.  This  part  of  the 
head  dress,  common  to  both  sexes,  was  called  a chaperon . 
The  chaperons  of  people  of  distinction,  were  larger  than  those 
of  others,  and  trimmed  with  fur:  those  of  the  common  people 
were  plain,  and  formed  like  a sugar-loaf. 

During  the  reign  of  Philip,  the  long  shoes,  turned  up  at 
the  toes,  were  introduced  into  France.  They  are  said  to 
have  been  first  worn  by  a nobleman,  who  had  a large  fleshy 
excrescence  at  the  end  of  one  of  his  feet,  for  the  purpose  of 
concealing  that  deformity.  They  soon  became  general ; and, 
thenceforth,  a man’s  rank  was  known  by  the  length  of  his 
shoes.  Those  of  a prince  were  two  feet  and  a half  in  length; 
those  of  a baron,  two  feet;  while  a simple  knight  was  reduced 
to  a foot  and  a half,  and  a plain  citizen  to  one.  — The  bishops 
long  exclaimed,  in  vain,  against  this  absurd  custom;  which 
they  called  46  a sin  against  nature” — an  insult  to  the  Creator; 
and  the  wearing  of  such  shoes  was  nearly  declared  heresy . 
To  effect  its  abolition,  all  those  who  followed  it  were  sentenced 
to  pay  a fine  of  ten  florins;  a regulation  which  had  the  de- 
sired effect:  but  the  long  shoes  were  succeeded  by  large 
slippers,  above  a foot  wide. 

The  religious  and  military  order  of  knights  templars, 
which  had  arisen  during  the  first  excitement  of  the  crusades, 
had  made  rapid  advances,  in  credit  and  authority;  and  ac- 
quired, from  the  piety  of  the  faithful,  ample  possessions,  in 
every  Christian  country,  particularly  in  France.  But  their 
inclination  was  at  length  changed.  Relinquishing  their  fruit- 
less expeditions  into  Asia,  and  scorning  the  ignoble  occu- 
pations of  a monastic  life,  they  passed  their  time  in  the 
fashionable  amusements  of  hunting  and  gallantry,  and  the 
pleasures  of  the  table.  To  the  last,  they  were  particularly 
addicted;  and  a French  proverb  is  still  in  use — Boire  comme 


100 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


uyi  Templier—  (to  drink  like  a Templar);  which  attests  their 
attachment  to  the  bottle. 

The  severity  of  the  taxes,  and  the  mal -administration  of 
Philip,  with  regard  to  the  coin,  which  he  had  repeatedly 
altered  in  its  value,  occasioned  an  insurrection  in  Paris. 
The  knights  Templars  were  accused  of  partaking  in  the 
tumult.  They  were  affluent,  the  king  was  in  want  of  mo- 
ney, and  he  determined  to  involve  the  whole  order  in  one 
undistinguished  ruin.  They  were  charged  with  robbery, 
murder,  and  idolatry,  and  all  the  vices  most  shocking  to 
human  nature.  Above  a hundred  knights  were  stretched 
upon  the  rack;  great  numbers  were  burned  alive;  their  trea- 
1312  sures  were  seized,  and  pope  Clement  V.,  by  the 
plenitude  of  his  apostolic  power,  in  a general  council, 
at  Vienne,  without  examining  a single  witness,  or  making 
any  inquiry  into  the  charges  alleged  against  them,  and  con- 
trary to  the  opinion  of  all  the  bishops  of  Europe,  except  four, 
abolished  the  whole  order;  and,  in  consequence,  their  lands 
were  seized,  and  the  Templars,  in  every  part  of  Europe, 
were  imprisoned. 

1314  Philip  did  not  long  survive  this  barbarous  injus- 
tice. The  failure  of  an  attack  upon  the  count  of 
Flanders,  together  with  some  domestic  misfortunes,  threw 
him  into  a languishing  consumption;  which  closed  his  in- 
triguing life,  in  the  forty-seventh  year  of  his  age,  and  thir- 
tieth of  his  reign. 

He  left  three  sons, — Louis,  Philip,  and  Charles;  all  of 
whom  were  kings  of  France,  in  succession;  and  also  one 
daughter,  Isabella,  married  to  Edward  II.,  king  of  England. 

It  was  in  this  reign,  (in  the  year  1302,)  that  the  Commons 
were  first  summoned  to  attend  the  national  assemblies.  In- 
deed, this  may  be  considered  the  true  epoch  of  National 
Parliaments,  in  France;  which,  by  a royal  edict,  were  ap- 
pointed to  be  held  twice  every  year,  at  Paris. 

Philip  founded  the  University  of  Orleans,  was  attached  to 
the  study  of  the  belles-lettres,  and  extended  his  patronage 
and  protection  to  every  one  who  cultivated  the  sciences. 

Amongst  the  celebrated  characters  that  flourished  during 
this  reign,  were  William  de  Nangis,  John  de  Meun,  and 
William  Duran ti.  The  first  of  these,  who  was  a monk  of 
St.  Dennis,  finished  the  life  of  Saint  Louis,  which  had  been 
begun  by  one  of  his  brethren,  named  Gilion  de  Rheims. 
He  also  compiled  the  life  of  Philip  the  Hardy,  and  continued 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


101 


the  history  written  by  Sigebert,  the  monk  of  Gcmblours, 
from  the  year  1114,  to  1300.— John  de  Meun  is  famous  for 
his  continuation  of  the  celebrated  poem,  entitled,  “the  Ro- 
mance of  the  Rose;”  which  had  been  commenced,  forty  years 
before,  by  William  de  Lorris:  he  was  likewise  author  ot  a 
French  translation  of  the  Epistles  of  Abelard,  and  some  othei 
works  of  inferior  note. 


LOUIS  X., 

SURNAMED  HUTIN. 

1314—1316. 

The  short  reign  of  Louis  X.,  eldest  son  of  the  late  king, 
(surnamed  Hutin)  which  continued  only  a year  and  a half, 
presents  nothing  worthy  of  remembrance. 

Why  the  appellation  of  Hutin  was  given  to  this  monarch, 
has  not  been  determined.  The  literal  signification  of  this 
obsolete  term,  is  “imperious,”  “ peevish,”  or  “ quarrel- 
some:” but  there  was  nothing  in  the  disposition  ot  Louis, 
that  could  justify  the  annexation  of  such  epithets  to  ms  name. 
Mezeray  is  of  opinion,  that,  he  was  called  Hutin,  either  fiom 
the  circumstance  of  his  having  been  sent,  by  his  father,  to 
quell  the  Hutins,  or  insurgents  of  Navarre  and  Lyons;  or 
because,  in  his  infancy,  he  had  given  symptoms  of  a martial 
disposition,  by  assembling  the  young  noblemen  of  the  court, 
whom  he  drew  up  in  order  of  battle,  and  made  go  through 
their  exercise. 

PHILIP  V. 

1316 — 1322. 

Three-hundred-and-twenty-nine  years  had  now  elapsed, 
since  the  accession  of  Hugh  Capet;  during  which  period,  the 
crown  of  France  had  descended,  regularly,  from  father  to 
son,  through  eleven  generations;  a series  of  lineal  inheri- 
tance, of  very  uncommon  continuation.  But  the  death  of 
the  last  prince,  without  male  issue,  caused  a dispute  con- 
cerning the  succession.  During  the  space  of  nine -hundred 
years,  the  French  monarchy  had  always  been  governed  by 
males;  and  no  female,  nor  any  male  claiming  his  descent 
through  females,  had  ever  been  suffered  to  mount  the  throne. 

i 2 


102 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


Philip  the  Long,  and  Jane,  queen  of  Navarre,  preferred 
their  claims;  the  former,  as  the  brother,  the  latter,  as  the 
daughter  of  Louis  Hutin. 

The  states  general  being  convened,  the  matter  was  de- 
bated; and  it  was  finally  declared,  that,  in  conformity  with 
the  Salique  Law,  (said  to  be  found  in  the  code  of  an  ancient 
tribe  amongst  the  Franks,)  females  could  not  inherit  the 
crown  of  France.  In  consequence  of  this,  the  brother  of 
the  late  king,  who  had  just  entered  his  twenty-fourth  year, 
ascended  the  throne,  under  the  title  of  Philip  V.  But  his 
1322  reign,  like  that  of  his  immediate  predecessor,  was 
short,  and  devoid  of  interest.  He  died,  without  male 
issue,  in  the  thirty-fourth  year  of  his  age,  and  the  sixth  of 
his  reign.  His  body  was  conveyed  to  St.  Dennis;  his  heart, 
to  the  convent  of  the  Cordeliers,  at  Paris;  and  his  entrails, 
to  the  Jacobins.  46  Those  good  fathers,”  says  Mezeray,  “ had, 
from  the  time  of  St.  Louis,  claimed  a right  of  having  a part 
of  the  entrails  of  their  sovereigns— less  for  the  honour  of  the 
circumstance,  than  for  the  emoluments  with  which  it  was 
generally  accompanied.  ” 

Philip  was  a just  and  virtuous  prince,  whose  only  fault 
appears  to  have  been  an  exorbitant  love  of  money,  which 
sometimes  led  him  to  the  adoption  of  measures  inconsistent 
with  the  general  tenor  of  his  conduct. 

CHARLES  IV. 

1322 — 1328. 

The  reign  of  Charles  IV.,  brother  of  the  last  monarch, 
and  the  only  surviving  son  of  Philip  the  Fair,  was,  like  that 
of  his  two  immediate  predecessors,  short  and  unimportant; 
presenting  nothing  worthy  of  the  historic  page;  nothing 
worthy  of  reflection.  He  died  in  the  thirty-fourth  year  of 
his  age,  and  the  sixth  of  his  reign,  leaving  only  a daughter, 
and  consequently  no  heir  to  the  crown. 

He  was  a prince  distinguished  neither  for  any  great  virtues, 
nor  remarkable  vices : avarice  was  his  chief  defect;  but,  when 
that  did  not  lead  him  to  acts  of  oppression,  he  enforced  a 
due  observance  of  order,  and  an  impartial  administration  of 
justice. 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


103 


PHILIP  VI. 

Battle  of  Crecy. 

1328 — 1350. 

The  three  sons  of  Philip  the  Fair,  had  now  sat  on  the 
throne  of  France,  and  died  without  leaving  male  issue;  a 
circumstance  which  caused  another  dispute  as  to  the  succes- 
sion. The  claimants  were  Edward  III.,  king  of  England, 
and  Philip,  count  of  Valois.  Edward,  being  the  son  of  Isa- 
bella, daughter  of  Philip  the  Fair,  was,  consequently,  the 
maternal  grandson  of  that  monarch,  and  nephew  of  the  three 
last  kings  of  France.  Philip  of  Valois  was  only  their  cou- 
sin-german; being  a nephew  of  Philip  the  Fair.  Edward 
was,  therefore,  the  nearest  relation,  in  degree;  but  descend- 
ed from  a female.  Philip,  though  more  distant  in  consan- 
guinity, was  descended  from  a male.  The  king  of  England 
alleged,  that  the  exclusion  of  females,  by  the  Salique  law, 
did  not  affect  their  male  descendants.  The  count  of  Valois 
insisted,  that  not  only  the  females  themselves,  but  also  their 
posterity,  were  excluded;  and,  that,  were  the  sons  of  exclu- 
ded females,  deemed  competent  to  succeed,  Charles,  king  of 
Navarre,  descended  from  a daughter  of  Louis  Hu  tin,  had  a 
superior  claim  to  Edward.  This  is  a brief  statement  of  the 
case.  The  peers  of  France  decided  in  favour  of  Philip; 
who,  in  consequence,  ascended  the  throne,  in  the  thirty -sixth 
year  of  his  age. 

Although  the  youthful  and  ambitious  Edward,  then  only 
in  his  fifteenth  year,  had  entertained  the  notion,  that  he  had 
a just  right  to  the  crown  of  France,  he  was  deterred,  by  the 
experience  and  reputation  of  the  French  king,  from  persist- 
ing in  his  claim;  and  afterwards  did  homage  to  his  rival, 
for  the  dutchy  of  Guienne.  It  is  probable,  therefore,  that 
he  would  not  have  thought  of  it  further,  had  it  not  been  for 
some  incidents,  which  excited  an  animosity  between  them. 

Robert  d’ Artois,  descended  from  the  royal  blood  of  France, 
having  lost  his  domains,  by  an  unjust  decree  of  Philip  the 
Fair,  had  endeavoured  to  recover  them,  by  a measure  as  in- 
quitous,  as  that  by  which  he  had  been  divested.  This  led 
to  his  disgrace  and  banishment  by  the  present  king.  He 
took  refuge  at  the  court  of  Edward;  and  endeavoured  to 
rekindle  his  latent  ambition,  with  regard  to  the  crown  of 
France.  The  English  monarch  was  not  averse  to  the  sug- 


104 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


gestion.  He  was  displeased  with  Philip’s  conduct  towards 
himself,  in  extorting  homage  for  Guienne;  and  his  having 
encouraged  the  people  of  Scotland,  in  their  struggle  for  in- 
dependence. 

Anxious  to  secure  the  Flemings  in  his  interest,  Philip 
offered  to  procure  the  restoration  ot  some  of  their  ancient  pri- 
vileges; but,  mindful  of  the  injuries  which  they  had  received, 
they  were  to  be  conciliated  neither  by  promises  nor  threats. 
Failing  in  this,  he  tried  another  mode.  He  complained  to 
the  pope;  who  attacked  them  with  all  the  thunders  of  the 
church;  and  pronounced  against  them  an  excommunication, 
so  positive  and  terrible,  that  no  one  dared  to  celebrate  divine 
service.  Alarmed  at  their  situation,  the  Flemings  had  re- 
course to  the  king  of  England;  who  told  them,  not  to  be 
frightened;  for,  that  the  first  time  he  crossed  the  sea,  he 
would  carry  over  with  him  plenty  of  English  priests,  who 
would  say  mass  for  them,  in  spite  of  the  pope. 

Edward’s  first  invasion  of  France,  accompanied 
1339‘  chiefly  by  Flemish  and  German  allies,  was  abortive. 
When  Philip  appeared  against  him,  with  an  army  of  nearly 
double  the  force,  he  retired  into  Flanders,  and  dispersed 

his  troops.  ... 

But  the  English  monarch  was  not  of  a disposition, 
134°-  to  be  disheartened,  by  the  failure  of  a first  attempt. 
He  seemed  still  resolved  to  be  king  of  France.  In  the  fol- 
lowing year,  he  put  to  sea,  with  a fleet  of  two-hundred-and- 
forty  ships;  and,  wrhen  oft  Siuise,  having  encountered  the 
fleet  of  Philip,  consisting  of  four-hundred,  he  defeated  it, 
with  the  loss  of  two-hundred-and-thirty  ships,  and  thirty- 
thousand  men.  This  w^as  a severe  stroke,  to  the  power  of 
France.  It  was  the  first  naval  conflict,  between  the  English 
and  the  French.  None  of  Philip’s  courtiers  dared  inform 
him  of  the  event,  until  his  fool,  or  jester,  had  given  him  a 
hint,  by  which  he  perceived  the  greatness  of  his  loss. 

Edward  marched  towards  the  frontiers  of  France,  with 
an  army  of  one-hundred-thousand  men,  and  laid  siege ^ to 
Tournay.  But,  every  assault,  made  by  him,  against  this 
place,  was  repulsed.  The  valour,  on  the  one  side,  was 
encountered,  with  equal  valour,  on  the  other.  Irritated,  at 
length,  by  the  disagreeable  prospect  of  the  campaign,  lie 
sent  Philip  a defiance;  and  challenged  him  to  decide  their 
claims  for  the  crown  of  France,  either  by  single  combat,  or 
by  an  action  of  a hundred  against  a hundred.  But  Philip 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


105 


could  not  be  diverted  from  the  line  of  prudence.  He  re- 
minded Edward  of  his  having  done  homage  for  Guienne; 
that  it  ill  became  a vassal  to  challenge  his  liege  lord  and 
sovereign;  and  that  he  proposed  a duel  upon  very  unequal 
terms,  by  offering  to  hazard  only  his  own  person,  against 
the  kingdom  of  France,  and  the  person  of  the  king;  but 
proposed,  that  if  Edward  would  increase  his  stake,  and  put 
also  the  kingdom  of  England  upon  the  issue  of  the  duel,  he 
would  willingly  accept  the  challenge.  No  duel,  however, 
was  fought;  no  battle  of  a hundred  against  a hundred.  Nei- 
ther of  the  kings  was  serious.  These  mutual  bravados  were 
intended  only.to  dazzle  the  populace:  they  had  more  wisdom, 
than  to  think  of  executing  their  pretended  purpose;  and  the 
campaign  ended  with  a truce. 

Tne  truce  was,  however,  only  of  short  duration.  The 
sword  was  soon  again  unsheathed,  and  the  bowstring  tight- 
ened for  destruction. 

An  unexpected  occurrence  intervened,  which  furnished 
the  king  of  England  with  an  opportunity  of  attacking  Phi- 
lip, in  the  centre  of  his  dominions.  A dispute  having  arisen, 
between  the  count  of  Montfort  and  Charles  of  Blois,  in  re- 
gard to  the  succession  to  the  dutchy  of  Brittany,  the  court 
of  peers  gave  a verdict  in  favour  of  Charles;  and  the  count, 
having  resisted  this  decree,  was  carried  a prisoner  to  Paris. 
But  his  affairs  were  unexpectedly  retrieved,  by  the  magna- 
nimity of  his  consort.  Assembling  the  inhabitants  of  Rennes, 
where  she  then  resided,  and  taking  her  infant  son  in  her 
arms,  she  conjured  them  to  extend  their  protection  to  the 
last  male  heir  of  their  ancient  sovereigns;  and  expatiated  on 
the  resources  that  were  still  to  be  derived  from  the  power- 
ful assistance  of  England.  She  visited  all  the  garrisons, 
and  concerted  the  proper  plans  of  defence.  At  Henne- 
bonne,  the  brave  countess  commanded  in  person.  This 
was  the  strongest  fortress  in  Brittany;  and  the  garrison,  ac- 
tuated by  the  presence  and  example  of  this  incomparable 
heroine,  prepared  for  a vigorous  defence.  The  countess 
herself  performed  prodigies  of  valour.  Assaults,  the  most 
violent  and  incessant,  she  sustained,  without  shrinking. 
Clad  in  complete  armour,  she  stood  foremost  in  the  breach, 
and  repelled,  with  irresistible  courage,  all  the  attacks  of 
Charles;  and,  in  the  encouragement  and  support  of  her  troops, 
displayed  a degree  of  skill,  that  would  have  done  honour  to 
the  most  experienced  general. 


106 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


Perceiving,  one  day,  that  the  besiegers,  occupied  in  a gen- 
eral attack,  had  left  their  camp  unguarded,  she  immediately 
sallied  forth,  by  a postern,  with  a body  of  five-hundred 
horse 5 set  fire  to  their  tents,  baggage,  and  magazines ; and 
created  so  universal  an  alarm,  that  the  enemy  desisted  from 
the  assault,  in  order  to  cut  off  her  communication  with  the 
town.  Finding  herself  intercepted,  she  galloped  off  to 
Auray;  which  place  she  reached  in  safety;  and,  five  days 
afterwards,  she  returned,  with  her  little  army,  cut  her  way 
through  a part  of  the  camp,  and  entered  the  town,  in  triumph. 

At  length,  however,  so  many  breaches  were  made  in  the 
walls,  that  the  bishop  of  Leon,  in  opposition  to  her  prayers 
and  remonstrances,  had  determined  to  capitulate.  He  was 
accordingly  engaged  in  a conference  with  Charles  of  Blois, 
when  the  countess,  who  had  ascended  the  summit  of  a lofty 
tower,  and  was  casting  an  eager  look  towards  the  sea,  des- 
cried a fleet,  at  a distance.  She  instantly  descended,  ran 
into  the  street,  and  exclaimed,  in  a transport  of  joy — 66  suc- 
cours— succours ! — the  English  succours ! — no  capitulation !” 
* — Nor  was  she  mistaken:  the  English  fleet  soon  afterwards 
entered  the  harbour;  and  the  troops,  under  the  command  of 
Sir  Walter  Manny,  being  landed,  immediately  sallied  from 
the  city,  and  attacked  the  camp  of  the  besiegers,  which 
was  once  more  reduced  to  ashes,  after  a great  many  of  its 
defenders  had  been  slain. 

1346  armJ  Edward,  which,  during  the  ensuing 

° * campaign,  was  favoured  with  almost  unparalleled  suc- 

cess, consisted' of  about  thirty-thousand  men — English,  Irish, 
and  Welsh.  After  destroying  all  the  ships,  at  La  Hogue, 
where  he  landed,  and  also  at  Barfleur  and  Cherbourg,  he 
spread  his  army  over  the  whole  country;  took  Caen,  by 
storm,  and  carried  his  ravages  to  the  very  gates  of  Paris. 
But,  being  closely  pressed,  by  the  French  monarch,  at  the 
head  of  a hundred-thousand  men,  he  was  at  length  obliged 
to  act  on  the  defensive,  and  retreat.  His  situation  was 
alarming.  As  a last  resource,  he  made  a stand,  at  the  vil- 
lage of  Crecy  ; and  here,  was  fought,  the  memorable  battle, 
which  has  immortalized  his  name. 

He  drew  up  his  army  upon  a gentle  ascent,  and  divided 
it  into  three  lines.  The  first  was  commanded  by  his  eldest 
son,  the  prince  of  Wales;  called,  after  the  colour  of  his 
armour,  the  Black  Prince,  then  only  in  his  sixteenth  year: 
the  earl  of  Arundel  was  at  the  head  of  the  second;  and  the 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


107 


third,  intended  as  a reserve,'  was  under  the  direction  of  the 
king  himself. 

Philip  was  advised  to  defer  engaging,  until  his  troops  had 
recovered  from  their  fatigue:  but  one  division  of  his  army 
pressetUaipon  another;  orders  to  halt  were  not  seasonably 
conveyed,  to  all;  and  they  arrived  in  presence  of  the  enemy, 
perplexed  by  confusion,  and  weakened  by  fatigue.  The 
first  line,  consisting  of  fifteen-thousand  cross-bow-men,  was 
commanded  by  Anthony  Doria,  and  Charles  Grimaldi;  the 
second,  by  the  count  d’Alen^on;  the  third,  by  the  king  of 
France. 

Besides  the  French  monarch,  there  were  in  this  engage- 
ment, no  less  than  three  crowned  heads, — the  king  of  Bo- 
hemia, the  king  of  the  Romans,  his  son,  and  the  king  of 
Majorca;  with  all  the  nobility  and  great  vassals  of  the  crown 
of  France.  The  French  army  now  consisted  of  one-hundred- 
and -twenty-thousand  men,  nearly  four  times  the  number  of 
the  English;  and  never  had  European  soldiers  faced  each 
other  on  a more  interesting  occasion. 

Incidents,  seemingly  unimportant,  decide  the  chances  of 
success.  There  had  happened,  a little  before  the  engagement, 
a thunder-shower,  which  had  moistened  and  relaxed  the 
strings  of  the  Genoese  cross-bows;  and  their  arrows,  for  this 
reason,  could  not  reach  the  opposing  ranks.  The  English, 
however,  were  not  inconvenienced,  from  that  cause.  Taking 
their  bows  out  of  their  cases,  which  had  preserved  them 
from  the  rain,  their  arrows  are  directed  with  their  wonted 
force,  and  soon  throw  the  Genoese  into  confusion.  The 
artillery  fire  amongst  the  crowd,  and  the  Black  Prince  leads 
on  his  division  to  the  charge.  The  French  cavalry,  however, 
make  a stout  resistance,  the  battle  becomes,  for  some  time, 
full  of  danger,  and  the  earl  of  Warwick,  apprehensive  of  the 
event,  from  the  superior  numbers  of  the  French,  despatches 
a messenger  to  the  English  king,  and  entreats  him  to  send 
assistance  to  the  prince.  But  Edward,  who  surveyed  the 
field  of  battle  from  a windmill,  on  the  summit  of  a hill,  was 
not  in  the  least  alarmed. — “ Return,”  said  he,  “ to  my  son: 
tell  him,  that  I reserve  the  honour  of  this  day,  for  him;  and 
that  I feel  confident  he  will  be  able,  without  my  assistance, 
to  repel  the  enemy.”  This  speech  was  a reviving  cordial 
to  the  prince.  He  makes  an  attack  upon  the  French,  with 
redoubled  vigour:  the  count  d’Alemjon  is  slain,  his  whole 
line  of  cavalry  is  thrown  into  disorder;  the  Welsh  infantry 


108 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


rush  amongst  the  throng,  and,  with  their  long  knives,  cut 
the  throats  of  all  who  had  fallen;  nor  was  any  quarter  given, 
on  that  day,  by  the  victor. 

Philip  advanced,  with  the  reserve,  to  support  his  brother. 
But  he  found  the  duke  weltering  in  his  blood,  his  line 
already  broken,  and  the  confusion  prevalent  in  his  own 
body,  was  increased  by  the  example  of  their  rout.  He  had 
himself  a horse  killed  under  him,  was  remounted,  and, 
though  left  almost  alone,  seemed  still  determined  to  main- 
tain the  combat;  when  one  of  his  attendants  turned  about  his 
horse,  and  hurried  him  from  the  field  of  battle,  slippery 
with  streams  of  blood.  The  whole  French  army  now  took 
to  flight,  and  were  followed  and  put  to  the  sword,  without 
mercy,  until  the  pursuit  was  ended  by  the  darkness  of  the 
night. 

On  the  day  of  battle,  and  on  the  ensuing,  there  fell,  of  the 
French  army,  thirty-six-thousand  men.  Many  of  the  princi- 
pal nobility  of  France,  besides  the  kings  of  Bohemia  and 
Majorca,  breathed  their  last,  on  the  field  of  Crecy.  The 
fate  of  the  former  prince,  was  most  singular.  Blind,  from 
age,  yet  resolved  to  set  an  example  to  others,  he  had  ordered 
the  reins  of  his  bridle  to  be  tied,  on  each  side,  to  the  horses 
of  two  gentlemen  of  his  train;  and  his  dead  body,  and  those 
of  his  attendants,  with  their  horses  standing  by  them,  in 
that  situation,  were  afterwards  found  amongst  the  slain. 

The  trifling  loss  sustained  by  the  English,  is  as  remark- 
able, as  the  great  slaughter  of  the  French.  They  lost  only 
one  esquire,  and  three  knights,  and  very  few  of  inferior 
rank. 

This  was  the  first  remarkable  occasion,  in  which  artillery 
had  been  used.  The  invention  was  then  known  in  France, 
as  well  as  in  England;  but,  it  is  supposed,  that  Philip,  in 
his  hurry  to  overtake  the  enemy,  had  left  his  cannon  behind. 

The  prudence  of  the  English  monarch,  was  not  lessened 
by  success.  Not  elated,  by  his  signal  victory,  so  as  to  ex- 
pect the  total  conquest  of  the  disputed  kingdom,  he  pro- 
posed to  secure  only  an  easy  entrance  into  France,  by  which 
he  might  afterwards  seize  any  advantage  that  might  offer. 
He  therefore  limited  his  ambition  to  the  conquest  of  Calais. 

1 This  place  was  defended,  by  John  de  Vienne,  with 
° * remarkable  bravery  and  vigilance,  during  a siege  of 

eleven  months;  but  the  king  of  France,  though  lie  appeared 
with  an  army  of  two-hundred-thousand  men,  having  failed 


HISTORY  OP  FRANCE. 


109 


in  driving  away  the  enemy,  or  in  succouring  the  starving 
garrison,  the  governor  at  length  saw  the  necessity  of  sur- 
rendering the  fortress:  his  soldiers,  as  well  as  the  inhabitants, 
being  reduced  to  the  last  extremity,  by  famine  and  fatigue. 
Not  a horse,  dog,  cat,  or  rat,  or  any  species  of  vermin,  that 
was  eatable,  however  unpalatable,  remained  unconsumed, 
within  the  town.  He  proposed  a capitulation.  Incensed, 
however,  at  the  obstinacy  of  the  besieged,  who  had  now 
detained  him  nearly  a whole  year  before  their  walls,  Edward 
would  not,  at  first,  accept  the  surrender,  on  any  terms, 
that  would  confine  him  in  the  punishment  of  its  defenders: 
but,  reflecting,  afterwards,  on  the  danger  of  retaliation,  he 
was  induced  to  soften  the  rigour  of  that  condition.  He 
only  insisted,  that  six  of  the  most  considerable  citizens, 
should  be  sent  to  him,  to  be  disposed  of  as  he  thought  pro- 
per; that  they  should  come  to  his  camp,  carrying  the  keys 
of  the  city  in  their  hands,  bareheaded,  and  barefooted,  with 
ropes  about  their  necks;  with  which  terms,  if  the  governor 
complied,  the  lives  of  the  remainder  should  be  spared. 

This  communication,  designed  as  an  act  of  lenity,  would, 
in  this  age,  be  considered  as  most  barbarous  rigour.  Struck 
with  consternation,  the  inhabitants  could  form  no  resolution, 
in  so  cruel  a dilemma.  At  last,  one  of  the  principal  inhabit- 
ants, called  Eustace  de  St.  Pierre,  stepped  forth,  and  de- 
clared that  he  would  sacrifice  himself,  for  the  safety  of  his 
friends:  animated  by  his  example,  another  made  a similar 
offer  of  self-devotion;  a third  and  a fourth  were  excited  by 
the  same  heroic  spirit;  and  the  whole  number  required,  was 
soon  completed.  Habited  as  malefactors,  they  laid  the  keys 
of  the  city  at  Edward’s  feet;  and,  notwithstanding  the  in- 
tercession of  his  son  and  the  English  nobles,  were  ordered 
for  execution. 

But  Edward’s  name  was  preserved  from  infamy,  by  the 
entreaties  of  his  queen.  When  Sir  Walter  Manny,  the  of- 
ficer who  had  been  sent  to  arrange  the  conditions  of  the 
surrender,  returned  to  the  camp  of  the  victorious  Edward, 
with  the  gallant  patriot,  St.  Pierre,  and  his  fellow  hostages, 
the  monarch  inquired,  66  Are  these  the  principal  inhabitants 
of  Calais?” — 66 They  are,”  replied  Manny,  “not  only  the 
principal  men  of  Calais,  but  the  principal  men  of  France, 
if  virtue  has  any  share  in  nobility.” — “ Were  they  delivered 
peaceably?”  inquired  Edward.  “ Was  there  no  resistance, 
no  commotion  amongst  the  people? — “Not  the  least,  sire. 


110 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


The  people  would  all  have  perished  rather  than  have  de- 
livered the  least  of  these  to  jour  majesty;  but  they  are  self- 
delivered,  self-devoted,  and  come  to  offer  their  inestimable 
heads,  as  an  ample  equivalent  for  the  ransom  of  thousands.” 
— Edward  was  secretly  piqued  at  this  reply;  but  he  knew 
the  privilege  of  a British  subject,  and  suppressed  his  re- 
sentment.— “ Experience,”  said  he,  “has  ever  shown,  that 
lenity  serves  only  to  incite  people  to  more  crimes.  Severity, 
at  times,  is  indispensably  necessary,  to  compel  subjects  to 
submission.  Go,”  he  cried,  to  an  officer,  “ lead  these  men 
to  execution.” — At  this  instant,  the  sound  of  a trumpet  was 
heard  throughout  the  camp.  The  queen  had  just  arrived, 
with  a reinforcement  of  gallant  troops,  from  England.  Sir 
Walter  Manny  flew  to  her  majesty,  and  briefly  informed 
her  of  the  particulars  respecting  the  six  victims.  As  soon 
as  Philippa  had  been  welcomed  by  Edward  and  his  court, 
her  majesty  desired  a private  audience. — “ My  lord,”  said 
she,  “ the  question  that  I am  to  enter  upon,  is  not  touching 
the  lives  of  a few  mechanics:  it  respects  the  honour  of  the 
English  nation;  it  respects  the  glory  of  my  Edward,  my 
husband,  my  king!  you  think  that  you  have  sentenced  six 
of  your  enemies  to  death.  No,  my  lord,  they  have  sentenced 
themselves.  The  stage  on  which  they  would  suffer,  would 
be  to  them  a stage  of  honour;  but  to  Edward,  a stage  of 
shame,  a reproach  to  his  conquests;  an  indelible  stain  on  his 
name.”— These  words  flashed  conviction  upon  the  soul  of 
Edward. — “ I have  done  wrong, very  wrong!”  he  exclaimed; 
“let  the  execution  be  instantly  stayed,  and  the  captives  be 
brought  before  us.”- — St.  Pierre  and  his  friends  soon  made 
their  appearance;  when  the  queen  thus  addressed  them: — 
“Natives  of  France,  and  inhabitants  of  Calais,  you  have 
put  us  to  a vast  expense  of  blood  and  treasure,  in  the  re- 
covery of  our  just  and  natural  inheritance:  but  you  have 
acted  up  to  the  best  of  an  erroneous  judgment,  and  we 
admire  and  honour  in  you  that  valour  and  virtue,  by  which 
we  are  so  long  kept  out  of  our  rightful  possessions.  Noble 
burghers!  excellent  citizens ! though  you  were  tenfold  the 
enemies  of  our  person  and  our  throne,  we  can  feel  nothing 
on  our  part  towards  you,  save  respect  and  affection.  You 
have  been  sufficiently  tried.  We  loose  your  chains;  we 
snatcli  you  from  the  scaffold;  and  we  thank  you  for  that 
lesson  of  humiliation  which  you  teach  us,  when  you  show  us 
that  excellence  is  not  of  blood,  of  title,  or  of  station;  that  vir- 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


Ill 


tue  gives  a dignity  superior  to  that  of  kings,  and  that  those 
whom  the  Almighty  informs  with  sentiments  like  yours,  are 
justly  and  universally  raised  above  all  human  distinctions. 99 

“ Ah  my  country  !r 5 exclaimed  St.  Pierre;  64  it  is  now  that 
I tremble  for  you.  Edward  gains  only  our  cities;  but 
Philippa  conquers  hearts.” 

Having  saved  these  gallant  citizens  from  an  unmerited 
death,  she  conducted  them  into  her  tent,  ordered  a repast  to 
be  set  before  them,  and  dismissed  them,  with  presents, 
suitable  to  their  immediate  wants. 

Edward  took  possession  of  Calais,  and  peopled  it  anew, 
with  English;  a policy  which,  it  is  likely,  preserved,  so  long, 
to  his  successors,  the  dominion  of  that  important  fortress. 
He  made  it  the  staple  of  wool,  leather,  tin,  and  lead;  the 
four  chief,  if  not  the  sole  commodities  of  England,  for  which 
there  was  then  any  demand,  in  a foreign  market. 

After  the  surrender  of  Calais,  the  blood-stained  instru- 
ments of  war,  were  allowed,  for  a while,  to  rest.  Through 
the  mediation  of  the  pope’s  legate,  Edward  concluded  a 
truce  with  France;  but,  even  during  this  cessation  of  arms, 
the  treachery  of  an  Italian  officer,  whom  he  had  appointed 
governor  of  Calais,  had  nearly  deprived  him  of  this  city;  the 
only  remaining  fruit  of  his  victorious  campaign.  Edward 
hastened  over  to  Calais.  A sanguinary  conflict  ensued, 
before  the  walls.  The  king  of  England,  who  wore  no  par- 
ticular badge  of  distinction,  and  fought,  as  a private  man, 
under  the  standard  of  Sir  Walter  Manny,  remarking  a French 
knight,  named  Eustace  de  Ribaumont,  who  was  giving  most 
signal  proofs  of  extraordinary  valour,  conceived  a desire  of 
encountering  him,  in  single  combat.  As  he  knew  Ribau- 
mont, he  challenged  him,  by  name,  and  a most  desperate 
action  followed.  Edward  was  twice  beaten  to  the  ground, 
and  twice  recovered:  equal  courage  and  skill  were  displayed, 
for  some  time,  by  both;  but,  at  length,  the  Frenchman  was 
compelled  to  acknowledge  that  he  was  beaten,  and  yielded 
up  his  sword. — The  defeat  became  general,  and  all  the  party 
were  either  slain  or  made  prisoners. — But  the  antagonist  of 
Edward,  was  not  long  detained.  The  king  presented  him 
with  a chaplet  of  pearls,  saying,  44 1 entreat  you  to  wear 
this,  for  my  sake.  You  are  no  longer  a prisoner:  I acquit 
you  of  your  ransom;  and  to-morrow  you  will  be  at  liberty  to 
dispose  of  yourself,  in  whatever  way  is  most  pleasing  to 
yourself.” 


112 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


France  was,  at  this  time,  afflicted  with  a most 
° * dreadful  calamity.  This  year  stands  fatally  distin- 

guished, in  history,  by  a general  pestilence;  which  made 
so  terrible  ravages,  not  only  in  France,  but  in  every  coun- 
try then  known,  that  it  is  supposed  to  have  swept  away 
nearly  one  third  of  the  human  race. 

1350  The  f°^owin©  year,  was  the  last  of  Philip’s  life. 

Worn  out  with  the  cares  of  royalty,  and  the  effects 
of  dissipation,  he  died,  prematurely  old,  at  Nogent  le  Roi, 
in  the  fifty-eighth  year  of  his  age,  and  twenty -third  of  his 
reign. 

Few  monarchs  have  been  more  praised,  by  historians, 
than  Philip  of  Valois,  though  few  have  had  more  slender 
claims  to  commendation.  Though  bold,  he  was  not  mag- 
nanimous; not  pious,  though  devout.  Stern,  cruel,  vin- 
dictive, and  inflexible,  the  people  of  Flanders,  and  the  no- 
bles of  Brittany,  experienced  the  fatal  effects  of  his  pride 
and  revenge. 

On  the  accession  of  Philip  to  the  throne  of  France,  he 
found  the  people  possessed,  by  the  emancipation  of  the 
commons,  of  a degree  of  liberty,  unknown  to  their  ances- 
tors. But  the  nation  had  not  yet  derived,  from  their  im- 
proved condition,  all  the  advantages  that  it  was  calculcated 
to  insure.  Arts  and  manufactures  were  still  in  their  in- 
fancy; and  commerce,  totally  neglected  by  the  natives,  was 
abandoned  to  the  avidity  of  foreigners — Italians,  Spaniards, 
and  Flemings.  Yet,  were  luxury  and  ridiculous  fashions, 
introduced.  A head  loaded  with  feathers,  a long  beard, 
chains  around  the  neck,  and  a dress  so  tight  and  short,  as 
to  be  inconsistent  with  decency,  had  already  become  objects 
of  attention  to  the  nobility;  and  of  ambition  to  the  common 
people. 

Dauphiny  having  been  annexed  to  the  crown  of  France, 
in  the  present  reign,  the  title  of  dauphin , has,  ever  since, 
been  assumed,  by  the  king’s  eldest  son.  The  tax  upon  salt, 
called  the  gabelle , is  also  supposed  to  have  been  commenced 
by  Philip.  He  established  magazines  of  this  article,  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  France;  on  which  occasion,  the  king  of  Eng- 
land gave  him  the  appellation  of  Author  erf  the  Salique  Law; 
and  Philip,  in  return,  called  his  rival,  The  Wool  Merchant; 
alluding  to  the  supplies  of  this  commodity,  so  freouently 
granted  to  him,  by  the  parliament. 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


113 


JOHN. 

Battle  of  Poictiers. 

1350—1364. 

The  incidents  in  the  reign  of  John,  the  son  and  successor 
of  the  late  king,  caused  the  French  to  regret  even  the  calam- 
itous times  of  Philip.  John  was  distinguished  by  many  vir- 
tues; particularly  a scrupulous  fidelity  and  honour:  nor  was 
he  deficient  in  personal  courage:  but,  as  he  wanted  that 
masterly  prudence  and  foresight,  required  in  his  difficult 
situation,  his  kingdom  was  at  the  same  time  disturbed  by 
intestine  commotions,  and  harassed  by  foreign  wars. 

The  principal  authors  of  these  calamities,  were  Charles, 
king  of  Navarre,  surnamed  the  Bad;  Stephen  Marcel,  pro- 
vost of  the  merchants  of  Paris;  and  the  bishop  of  Laon. 
Charles  was  descended  from  males  of  the  royal  blood  of 
France.  His  mother  was  a daughter  of  Louis  X. ; and  he 
had  himself  married  a daughter  of  the  reigning  king:  but 
these  ties,  which  ought  to  have  caused  a friendly  attach- 
ment to  the  throne,  gave  him  only  greater  power  to  shake 
and  overthrow  it. 

Marcel,  having  contrived  to  make  himself  governor  of 
Paris,  agreed  to  surrender  the  capital,  to  the  king  of  Na- 
varre. His  troops,  in  conjunction  with  the  rebels,  after  se- 
curing the  Bastile,  and  the  principal  gates  of  the  city,  were 
to  massacre  all  the  friends  of  the  regent,  whose  houses  were 
already  marked;  and  Charles  was  to  be  crowned  king  of 
France.  Marcel  accordingly  repaired  to  the  gate  of  St. 
Anthony,  in  the  night  of  the  last  of  July;  and,  having  dis- 
missed a part  of  the  guard,  and  replaced  them  with  such  as 
were  devoted  to  his  service,  he  took  the  keys  of  the  gate 
from  the  officer  to  whose  care  they  had  been  intrusted. 
Hitherto,  he  had  met  with  no  obstacle;  and  the  town  was 
on  the  point  of  being  surrendered  to  Charles  the  Bad,  when 
John  Maillard,  a loyal  citizen,  whose  name  merits  a dis- 
tinguished place  in  the  annals  of  France,  arrived,  with  a 
party  of  his  friends,  and,  seizing  Marcel,  saved  his  country. 
— When  he  came  up  to  the  traitor,  he  exclaimed,  “ Stephen, 
what  are  you  doing  here,  at  this  hour “ John,”  said 
Marcel,  46  what  is  that  to  you?  I am  here,  to  take  care  of 
the  town,  of  which  I am  governor.  “ That  is  not  the  case,’5 
k 2 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


U4 

replied  Maillard;  “you  are  not  here,  at  this  hour,  for  any 
good;  and  I will  show  you,”  addressing  himself  to  his  com- 
panions, that  he  has  got  the  keys  of  the  gate  in  his  hand, 
for  the  purpose  of  betraying  the  city. John,  you  lie!” 
said  the  provost. — u You  are  the  liar,”  returned  Maillard,  in 
a transport  of  rage;  then,  grasping  his  battle-axe,  with  one 
blow,  he  laid  him  dead  at  his  feet. 

But  John,  at  length,  found  an  opportunity  of  seizing  the 
person  of  that  atrocious  monarch.  Having  been  invited, 
by  the  dauphin,  to  a grand  repast,  at  Rouen,  the  invitation 
was  accepted;  and  Charles  came,  attended  by  a number  of 
his  most  faithful  adherents.  During  the  preceding  night, 
the  king  left  Manneville,  attended  by  a hundred  men  at 
arms.  He  arrived  at  the  gate  of  Rouen,  at  the  very  hour 
of  dinner;  and,  passing  round  the  outside  of  the  walls,  en- 
tered the  castle,  by  a private  door,  and  presented  himself  in 
the  room,  where  the  guests  were  assembled.  The  moment  he 
appeared,  every  one  arose  from  his  seat;  a goblet  of  wine 
was  offered  to  him,  but  he  refused  to  take  it,  and  exclaimed, 
with  a countenance  inflamed  with  rage,  “ Let  no  one  stir, 
under  pain  of  death!”  He  immediately  went  up  to  the  king 
of  Navarre,  and  secured  him.  The  count  of  Harcourt  at- 
tempted to  escape,  but  was  instantly  stopped.  All  the  no- 
bles and  knights,  in  the  retinue  of  Charles,  endeavoured  to 
force  a passage;  a few  of  them  escaped,  but  the  greater  part 
were  seized,  and  confined  in  different  parts  of  the  castle: 
the  count  of  Harcourt  and  four  others,  were  put  into  carts, 
when  the  king  mounted  his  horse,  and,  attended  by  the  dau- 
phin, and  his  men  at  arms,  conducted  them  to  a field,  near 
the  town,  where  he  caused  them  to  be  beheaded.  The  king 
of  Navarre  was  carried  to  the  Louvre,  at  Paris;  whence,  he, 
in  the  following  year,  effected  his  escape;  an  event  which 
caused  all  virtuous  men  to  shudder,  and  produced  unparal- 
leled calamity  to  France. 

Charles  and  the  dauphin  frequently  dined  together,  at 
Paris.  It  is  supposed  to  have  been  at  one  of  these  repasts, 
that  he  found  means  ol  administering  poison  to  the  latter; 
which  was  so  violent  in  its  operation,  that,  notwithstand- 
ing he  had  immediate  assistance,  his  nails  and  his  hair  fell 
off,  and  he  felt  the  effects  of  it  during  the  remainder  of  his 
life. 

Meanwhile,  the  kingdom  was  again  afflicted,  by  a general 
famine,  attended  with  the  most  dreadful  effects.  The  scar- 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE, 


115 


city  of  corn*  produced  so  great  an  augmentation  of  its  price, 
that  none  but  the  most  opulent  could  afford  to  purchase  it; 
and  the  necessity  of  the  people  was  so  great,  that  the  wretch- 
ed peasantry  were  constrained  to  feed  upon  the  roots  of  the 
earth,  and  even  upon  the  bark  of  trees. 

1356  The  *ruce  between  England  and  France,  which 
had  been  ill  observed,  on  both  sides,  had  now  ex- 
pired; so  that  Edward  was  at  liberty  to  support  the  French 
malcontents.  The  war  was  renewed.  With  an  army  of 
only  twelve-thousand  men,  the  prince  of  Wales  ventured  to 
penetrate  into  the  heart  of  France.  But  the  appearance  of 
the  French  king,  with  a force  of  sixty-thousand,  obliged  him 
to  retreat,  towards  Bourdeaux.  The  pursuers  came  within 
sight  of  the  English,  near  Poictiers;  and  young  Edward, 
sensible  that  a further  retreat  had  become  impracticable, 
prepared  for  battle.  While  Eustace  de  Ribaumont,  and  two 
other  officers  of  the  French  army,  were  reconnoitering  the 
enemy,  the  king,  mounted  on  a white  courser,  rode  along 
the  ranks,  and  thus  addressed  his  men: — 46  Soldiers,  when 
you  are  at  Paris,  Chartres,  Rouen,  or  Orleans,  you  threaten 
the  English,  and  wish  to  be  in  their  presence,  with  your  hel- 
mets on: — now,  you  are  in  their  presence;  yonder,  they  are. 
If  you  wish  to  take  vengeance,  for  the  injuries  you  have 
sustained,  and  to  punish  your  enemies,  for  what  they  have 
made  you  suffer,  now  is  your  time;  for  we  shall  certainly 
fight  them.”  The  French  immediately  took  measures  for  an 
assault;  fully  confident  of  an-  easy  victory.  But  they  were 
miserably  deceived.  The  battle  of  Poictiers,  fought  on  the 
nineteenth  of  September,  little  more  than  ten  years  after 
that  of  Crecy,  was  still  more  disastrous  to  France.  Six- 
thousand  of  the  French  army  who  were  slain,  and  fifteen- 
thousand  made  prisoners,  were  net  their  only  loss.  The 
king,  himself,  and  his  son  Philip,  were  amongst  the  captives; 
also,  the  duke  of  Bourbon,  and  the  constable  of  France; 
with  fifty  of  the  principal  nobles,  and  eight-hundred  barons 
and  gentlemen  of  distinction. 

A worthy  band  of  valorous  knights,  crowding  around  their 
king,  long  enabled  him  to  resist  the  impetuous  attacks  of 
the  enemy.  A body  of  German  cavalry  being  placed  in  the 
front,  the  prince  of  Wales  rushed  upon  them,  with  great 
fury,  killed  two  of  their  leaders,  and  made  a prisoner  of  the 

* The  word  com,  in  Europe,  is  a generic  term,  including  every  spe- 
cies of  grain  used  in  making  bread. 


116 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


third.  Still,  however,  the  French,  animated  by  the  presence 
and  example  of  their  sovereign,  made  a desperate  resistance. 
But  the  king  was,  at  length,  left  to  sustain  tiie  whole  fury 
of  the  English.  His  son  Philip,  fighting  by  his  side,  dis- 
played an  intrepidity  superior  to  his  age:  whenever  a blow 
was  aimed  at  his  father,  he  rushed  forward,  to  intercept  it; 
and,  in  thus  discharging  the  duties  of  a child  and  a hero,  he 
received  a most  glorious  wound.  The  standard  of  France 
by  this  time  lay  prostrate  on  the  ground,  clasped  in  the  life- 
less arms  of  the  valiant  Charny;  who  had  refused  to  quit 
the  precious  charge.  The  ranks  were  thinned;  the  carnage 
was  dreadful.  Still,  the  king  seemed  to  rise  superior  to 
misfortune:  wielding  his  battle-axe,  with  amazing  dexterity 
and  strength,  he  dealt  destruction  to  ail  who  ventured  to 
approach  him.  He  seemed  intent  on  victory  or  death.  But, 
exhausted,  at  length,  by  such  violent  exertion,  and  having 
received  two  wounds  in  the  face,  from  the  loss  of  his  helmet, 
which  had  fallen  off,  in  the  heat  of  action,  he  was  constrained 
to  surrender,  to  an  outlawed  knight  of  Artois,  named  Den- 
nis de  Morbec. 

The  prince  conducted  his  royal  prisoner  to  Bourdeaux; 
and,  after  concluding  a truce  for  two  years,  carried  him  to 
England. 

The  mayor  of  London  met  the  prince  in  Southwark,  fol- 
lowed by  the  aldermen,  adorned  with  the  insignia  of  their 
office,  and  one-thousand  of  the  principal  citizens.  The  cap- 
tive monarch  was  arrayed  in  royal  robes,  and  mounted  on  a 
superb  white  charger,  gorgeously  caparisoned;  while  his 
princely  victor,  simply  habited,  rode  by  his  side,  on  a black 
palfrey,  the  figure  and  trappings  of  which  bespoke  that  hu- 
mility which  dignified  and  adorned  the  mind  of  its  master; 
his  whole  deportment  displaying  the  modesty  and  self-abase- 
ment of  true  chivalry,  and  that  kind  consideration,  which 
one  knight  always  showed  to  his  brother  in  arms. 

The  captivity  of  the  French  monarch  ami  nobility,  joined 
to  the  preceding  disorders  of  the  kingdom,  produced  an  al- 
most total  dissolution  of  sovereign  authority,  and  the  most 
horrible  and  destructive  acts  of  violence,  experienced  by 
any  nation.  A body  of  nine-thousand  savage  peasantry, 
broke  intoMeaux;  where  the  wife  of  the  dauphin,  the  dutch- 
ess  of  Orleans,  and  above  three-hundred  other  ladies,  had 
taken  shelter.  Their  situation  was  most  dreadful.  Hope 
itself  had  fled  from  their  timid  breasts.  The  most  brutal 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


117 


treatment  was  apprehended,  hj  this  fair  and  helpless  com- 
pany^ when  the  count  de  Foix,  and  the  captal  de  Buche, 
with  the  aid  of  only  sixty  knights,  animated  with  the  gal- 
lant spirit  of  chivalry,  flew  to  their  rescue,  and  beat  off  the 
rapacious  assailants,  with  great  slaughter. 

1359  The  ^ruce  had  110  sooner  expired,  than  Edward 
again  invaded  France.  On  the  twenty-seventh  of 
October,  he  sailed  for  Calais,  with  a fleet  of  eleven-hundred 
ships;  on  board  of  which,  were  his  four  eldest  sons,  all  the 
principal  nobility  of  England,  and  an  army  of  one-hundred- 
ihousand  men.  He  ravaged  the  country,  without  opposition; 
pillaged  many  towns;  levied  contributions  upon  others;  and 
burned  several  villages,  within  sight  of  the  walls  of  Paris: 
but,  finding  that  his  army  could  not  subsist  in  a kingdom, 
wasted  by  foreign  and  domestic  enemies,  he  concluded,  at 
Bretigni,  an  advantageous  peace. 

It  was  stipulated,  that  John  should  pay  three-mil- 
lions of  gold  crowns,  for  his  ransom:  that  Edward 
should  for  ever  renounce  all  claim  to  the  crown  of  France, 
and  to  the  provinces  of  Normandy,  Maine,  Touraine,  and 
Anjou,  possessed  by  his  ancestors;  in  exchange  for  which, 
he  should  receive  the  provinces  of  Poictou,  Saintonge,  l’Age- 
nois,  Perigord,  Limosin,  Quercy,  and  other  districts,  in  that 
quarter;  together  with  Calais,  Guisnes,  Montreuil,  and  the 
county  of  Ponthieu,  on  the  other  side  of  France;  and  that 
the  sovereignty  of  these  provinces,  as  well  as  of  Guienne, 
should  be  vested  in  the  crown  of  England,  without  homage 
to  France. 

By  this  treaty,  John  was  restored  to  liberty,  after  a cap- 
tivity of  four  years:  but,  some  difficulties  having  arisen, 
in  its  execution,  he  formed  the  honourable  resolution 
° * of  returning  to  England,  in  order  to  remove  them; 

where  he  soon  afterwards  died,  in  the  forty -fifth  year  of  his 
age,  and  fourteenth  of  his  reign. 

John  was  heroically  brave,  faithful  to  his  word,  the  friend 
of  honour,  truth,  and  justice.  He  was  fond  of  literature, 
and  extended  his  protection  and  bounty  to  its  professors. 
He  caused  a great  part  of  the  Bible,  and  several  other  re- 
ligious works,  to  be  translated  into  French.  The  first 
translation  of  the  decades  of  Livy,  into  the  French  language, 
was  undertaken  at  his  command.  Sallust,  Lucan,  and  the 
Commentaries  of  Caesar,  were  also  translated,  during  thi$ 
reign. 


118 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


CHARLES  V. 

1364—1380. 

John  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son,  Charles  V.,  now 
m his  twenty-seventh  year;  a prince  distinguished  for  his 
prudence;  the  first  European  monarch  that  discontinued  the 
practice  of  appearing  at  the  head  of  his  armies,  in  the  field 
of  battle. 

The  defeat  and  entire  discomfiture  of  the  king  of  Navarre, 
the  great  disturber  of  the  nation,  during  this  age,  was  not 
sufficient  to  restore  order  to  the  kingdom.  Much  was  yet 
to  be  accomplished.  On  the  conclusion  of  the  peace  of 
Bretigni,  a multitude  of  adventurers,  who  had  served  in  the 
preceding  war,  refused  to  lay  down  their  arms.  They  even 
associated  themselves  with  the  banditti,  already  inured  to  the 
habits  of  violence  and  rapine;  and,  under  the  name  of  Com- 
panies, and  Companions,  became  a terror  to  the  peaceable 
inhabitants.  Some  English  and  Gascon  gentlemen  of  cha- 
racter, were  not  ashamed  to  be  at  the  head  of  these  ruffians; 
whose  number,  increasing  with  their  audacity,  amounted  to 
nearly  forty-thousand.  The  grievance  was  enormous.  The 
whole  fabric  of  society  was  shaken.  But,  an  occasion  at 
length  offering,  of  employing  them  in  foreign  service, 
Charles  freed  his  country  from  their  presence.  They  were 
invited  to  Castile,  by  Henry,  count  of  Transtamara,  to 
oppose  the  tyranny  of  Pedro,  the  natural  brother  of  that 
prince. 

Under  the  command  of  the  celebrated  French  general, 
Bertrand  du  Guesclin,  they  directed  their  march  towards 
Avignon,  then  the  residence  of  the  pope.  His  holiness  had 
no  reason  to  expect  this  visit;  and,  when  the  army  was  ap- 
proaching, he  sent  a cardinal,  to  menace  them  with  excom- 
munication, unless  they  immediately  left  the  territories  of 
the  church.  The  cardinal  was  told,  by  du  Guesclin,  that 
his  soldiers  must  first  have  absolution,  and  two-hundred  - 
thousand  livres:  the  prelate  answered,  that  they  might  have 
as  many  pardons  as  they  chose,  but,  as  for  money,  that  was 
a different  affair.  Bertrand  replied,  that  his  men  preferred 
gold  to  absolution;  and  that  he  would  do  well  to  bring  the 
sum  required,  without  delay.  The  pope  then  extorted  the 
money  from  the  inhabitants  of  the  city  and  neighbourhood, 
and  offered  it  to  du  Guesclin;  but,  being  informed  in  what 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


119 


manner  it  was  raised,  “ It  is  not  my  purpose,”  he  ex- 
claimed, “to  oppress  innocent  people.  The  pope  and  the 
cardinals  can  well  spare  me  that  sum,  out  of  their  own  cof- 
fers. This  money,  1 insist,  must  be  restored  to  the  owners; 
and,  should  they  be  defrauded  of  it,  I shall  myself  return, 
from  the  other  side  of  the  Pyrennees,  and  oblige  you  to 
make  them  restitution.” — This  appeal  was  not  without 
effect.  The  pope  paid  the  amount,  from  his  treasury;  after 
which,  the  army  proceeded  on  its  expedition. 

Du  Guesclin  easily  prevailed  over  Pedro,  until  the  Black 
igg-  Prince  was  induced  to  join  the  standard  of  the  Span- 
° * ish  king.  With  a much  inferior  force,  that  heroic 

soldier  encountered  Transtamara,  near  Najara;  and  defeated 
him,  with  the  loss  of  ten-thousand  men  killed,  and  as  many 
taken  prisoners;  amongst  whom,  was  du  Guesclin  himself. 

Bertrand  was  detained  a prisoner  at  Bourdeaux;  and,  as 
the  prince  of  Wales  had  refused  to  release  him,  it  was  in- 
sinuated, to  his  captor,  that  this  refusal  was  suspected  to 
proceed  from*  his  fear  of  a man  rendered  formidable  by  his 
great  abilities  and  courage.  Piqued  at  this  reproach,  Ed- 
ward ordered  the  warrior  to  be  brought  into  his  presence. 
— “ Mr.  Bertrand,”  said  he,  “it  is  pretended  that  I dare 
not  release  you,  because  1 am  afraid  of  you.” — “There  are 
people  who  say  as  much,”  replied  du  Guesclin;  “and  I 
think  myself  highly  honoured,  by  their  opinion.” — The 
prince  immediately  told  him  to  fix  his  own  ransom,  when 
he  named  the  sum  of  one-hundred-thousand  florins;  which 
he  said  he  could  easily  obtain,  from  the  kings  of  France 
and  Castile,  the  duke  of  Anjou  and  the  pope.  The  prin- 
cess of  Wales,  who  was  then  at  Bourdeaux,  anxious  to  see 
du  Guesclin,  invited  him  to  dinner;  and,  as  a proof  of  the 
esteem  she  entertained  for  him,  on  account  of  his  valour, 
she  offered  to  pay  for  him  twenty -thou sand  livres,  towards 
his  ransom.  Du  Guesclin,  bending  his  knee  before  her, 
said, — “ Madame,  I have  always  thought  myself  the  ugliest 
knight  that  the  wrorld  could  produce;  but  I now  find,  that 
I no  longer  ought  to  hold  myself  in  so  low  estimation.” 
Hitherto,  the  Black  Prince  had  been  successful,  in  every 
enterprise.  To  oppose  him,  was  only  to  be  defeated.  But 
fortune  seemed  at  length  weary  of  granting  him  her  favours. 
He  had  involved  himself  so  much  in  debt,  by  his  Spanish 
expedition,  that  he  found  it  necessary,  on  his  return  to 
Guienne,  to  impose  upon  this  dutchy  a new  tax;  to  which, 


120 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


many  of  the  nobles  refused  to  submit.  They  carried  their 
complaints  to  the  king  of  France,  as  their  superior  lord; 
and,  as  the  renunciation,  stipulated  in  the  treaty  of  Bretig- 
ni,  had  never  been  made,  Charles  seized  this  opportunity, 
to  renew  his  sovereignty  over  the  English  provinces.  In 
this  resolution,  he  was  encouraged,  by  the  declining  years 
of  king  Edward,  and  the  languid  condition  of  his  son’s 
health:  he  therefore  cited  the  prince  to  appear,  in  his  court, 
at  Paris,  and  justify  his  conduct.  Y^oung  Edward  felt  in- 
dignant at  the  summons.  His  military  ardour  was  re- 
kindled. He  replied,  that  he  would  come  to  Paris,  but,  it 
would  be  at  the  head  of  an  army.  War  was  renewed,  be- 
tween France  and  England;  but,  with  a singular  reverse  of 
fortune.  On  account  of  the  feeble  state  of  the  prince’s 
health,  he  being  unable  to  head  his  troops,  the  French,  aided 
by  a large  body  of  Scottish  auxiliaries,  were  victorious,  in 
almost  every  action:  by  the  valour  and  able  conduct  of  du 
Guesclin,  the  affairs  of  the  English,  on  the  continent,  were 
almost  entirely  ruined;  and  they  were  deprived,  in  a few 
years,  of  all  their  ancient  possessions  in  France,  except 
Bourdeaux  and  Bayonne;  and  of  all  their  conquests,  except 
Calais;  while  a French  fleet,  under  the  conduct  of  John  de 
Vienne,  ravaged  the  English  coasts,  and  burned  the  towns 
of  Rye  and  Hastings,  Portsmouth,  Dartmouth,  and  Ply- 
mouth. 

The  French  had  hitherto  made  little  progress  in  naval 
affairs.  The  navy  had  flourished  during  the  reign  of  Char- 
lemagne, but  was  neglected  by  his  successors.  The  French 
and  the  English  courted  the  alliance  of  the  Castilians  and 
Genoese,  then  deemed  the  most  skilful  mariners  in  Europe; 
and  the  squadrons  of  Genoa  fought  alternately  for  both  na- 
tions. Charles  was  the  first  French  monarch,  of  the  third 
race,  who  formed  a plan  for  a fleet  of  his  own.  His  vessels 
were  larger  than  those  generally  used;  though  not  to  be 
compared,  either  for  size  or  convenience,  with  the  ships  of 
the  present  times:  indeed,  a modern  vessel,  even  of  a mid- 
dle size,  could  not  have  entered  the  best  harbour  then  pos- 
sessed by  the  French.  The  largest  vessels  were  called 
galleys.  They  were  worked  with  oars  and  sails,  and  sup- 
plied with  low  towers;  whence,  stones,  and  other  missile 
weapons,  were  thrown;  and  to  the  prow  was  fixed  a long, 
thick  beam,  cased  with  iron,  for  the  purpose  of  crushing  the 
sides*of  the  enemy’s  ships. 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


121 


Six  years  after  those  misfortunes,  the  prince  of 
Wales  died;  and  his  father  survived  him  only  about 
twelve  months;  being  succeeded  by  the  prince’s  son,  Rich- 
ard II. 

The  French  monarch  lived  only  a few  years  after 
lo8U*  the  king  of  England.  Having,  by  the  great  pru- 
dence of  his  administration,  acquired  the  surname  of  Wise, 
he  died,  in  the  forty-fourth  year  of  his  age,  and  the  seven 
teenth  of  his  reign ; leaving  his  kingdom  to  a minor  son,  of 
the  same  name. 

Charles  was  a patron  of  letters,  and  may  be  considered 
as  the  founder  of  the  Royal  Library  at  Paris.  He  placed 
in  the  Louvre  about  nine-hundred  volumes;  a very  great 
number,  in  that  age,  when  the  art  of  printing  was  not  in- 
vented; twenty  volumes  having  composed  the  whole  litera- 
ry stock,  left  him  by  his  father.  A manuscript  was  a pre- 
cious thing;  and  often  bequeathed,  as  a considerable  part 
of  the  succession.  It  was  common  to  see  a breviary  care- 
fully preserved,  in  the  churches,  in  an  iron  cage,  for  the 
convenience  of  priests  who  had  no  books  of  their  own:  it 
was  placed  in  a part  of  the  church  where  there  was  most 
light,  that  several  priests  might  recite  their  office,  at  the 
same  time. 

Following  the  example  of  his  father,  Charles  caused 
several  of  the  ancient  classics  to  be  translated  into  French. 
The  chief  of  these  were,  Suetonius,  Valerius  Maximus, 
and  Josephus,  with  a new  and  more  correct  translation  of 
Livy.  The  ethics  and  politics  of  Aristotle,  were  trans- 
lated by  Nicholas  Oresmus,  and  his  problems  by  Evrard  de 
Contis,  physician  to  the  king.  John  of  Antioch  translated 
Cicero’s  Rhetoric,  and  the  bishop  of  Meaux  undertook  the 
Metamorphoses  of  Ovid.  The  Bible  was  also  rendered 
into  the  vernacular  tongue,  during  this  reign;  as  were  also 
the  institutes  of  Justinian,  and  the  decretals  of  the  popes. 

But,  most  of  these  translations  were  faithless  and  incor- 
rect. A cotemporary  writer  represents  the  original  authors, 
as  complaining  of  the  ignorance  of  their  translators;  who 
made  them  say  things  of  which  they  never  thought.  He 
then  adds,  “ 0,  how  happy  would  have  been  the  fate  of 
books,  had  there  been  no  tower  of  Babel;  for  then  there 
would  have  been  only  one  language  on  the  earth,  and  no 
word  would  have  stood  in  need  of  a translation.” 

Froissard,  who  was  a poet,  as  well  as  an  historian,  was 


122 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


the  only  French  writer,  of  this  age,  whose  works  are  at  once 
pleasing  and  instructive:  notwithstanding  their  barbarous 
style,  they  are  still  interesting. 

Nor  were  the  painters  more  skilful  than  the  poets.  Their 
chief  merit  consisted  in  representing  birds,  insects,  trees, 
and  flowers,  in  so  brilliant  colours,  that  they  still  retain 
their  original  lustre.  When  they  painted  human  figures, 
they  exerted  all  their  skill  in  preserving,  with  the  utmost 
precision,  the  dress,  and  the  form  of  the  nair;  but  they  had 
no  idea  of  expressing  the  passions,  or  of  giving  the  smallest 
decree  of  animation  to  the  countenance  or  person.  That 
their  meaning,  however,  might  not  be  mistaken,  they  had 
recourse  to  written  descriptions,  explanatory  of  the  subject. 
This  curious  expedient,  long  practised  in  France,  originated 
in  the  following  circumstance: — A friend  of  Bufamaleo,  a 
painter  of  Florence,  consulting  him  on  the  best  mode  of 
giving  expression  to  his  pictures,  was  advised,  by  him,  to 
put  words  into  the  mouths  of  his  figures,  by  means  of 
labels;  on  which,  might  be  written  what  he  wished  them  to 
say.  The  ignorant  artist  followed  his  advice:  he  met  with 
admirers,  as  ignorant  as  himself;  his  example  was  soon  fol- 
lowed, and  this  ridiculous  invention  was  imitated  in  France. 
Nothing  was  then  seen  but  pictures  by  question  and  answer; 
and,  for  greater  certainty,  there  was  inscribed,  upon  every 
figure,  the  name  of  the  person  whom  it  was  intended  to  re- 
present. 

It  is  asserted,  by  some,  that  the  sculptors  of  this  period, 
were  not  less  ignorant  than  the  painters;  but  the  few  statues 
that  yet  remain,  then  executed  in  France,  tend  to  confirm 
the  report  of  others,  that  the  art  of  sculpture  had  made  a 
rapid  progress. 

The  Gothic  style  of  architecture,  so  admirably  calculated 
for  churches,  was  still  in  use,  in  France.  With  regard  to 
other  edifices,  in  their  construction,  neither  comfort  nor 
convenience  seems  to  have  been  consulted.  In  most  private 
houses,  light  was  admitted  through  an  aperture,  defended 
from  the  weather  only  by  a wooden  shutter,  a few  sheets  of 
paper,  or  by  canvas.  Glass  was  an  object  of  luxury,  re- 
served for  the  mansions  of  the  nobility,  and  the  palaces  of 
kings.  The  latter  were  buildings  of  great  extent,  consisting 
of  two  stories,  divided  into  apartments  of  immense  size, 
with  low  garrets  above.  The  furniture  was  in  general  as 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


123 


plain  as  the  edifice.  The  king  and  all  the  royal  family, 
except  the  queen,  sat  on  wooden  benches,  or  joint  stools: 
the  queen  had  chairs  made  of  some  pliant  wood,  embel- 
lished with  red  leather  and  silk  fringe.  The  state  apart- 
ments were  richly  decorated:  the  beds  and  alcoves  were 
adorned  with  cloth  of  gold  and  silver,  velvet,  damask,  ta- 
pestry, and  satin.  Glass  mirrors  were,  at  this  period,  very 
scarce:  those  generally  used  were  of  polished  metal.  The 
apartments  occupied  by  the  royal  family,  were  covered  with 
tiles  or  slates;  all  the  other  parts  of  the  building  were 
thatched.  Adjoining  the  palace,  was  a menagerie;  in  which, 
were  kept  wild  boars  and  lions;  and  aviaries,  filled  with  ail 
kinds  of  birds.  The  royal  garden  contained  twenty  acres; 
in  which,  were  fruit-trees  of  almost  every  species.  The  king 
ordered  two-hundred  pear  and  apple-trees,  eleven-hundred 
cherry-trees,  and  one-hundred-and-fifty  plum-trees,  to  be 
planted,  at  one  time.  These  fruits  were  destined  for  the 
tables  of  the  royal  family,  and  the  great  officers  of  the  crown: 
the  inferior  officers  were  allowed  only  nuts. 

In  the  kitchen,  besides  the  cooks  and  their  assistants, 
were  four  pages;  whose  business  it  was  to  blow  the  fire 
constantly,  4 6 that  the  king’s  soup  might  not  be  suffered  to 
cool.”  A clerk  was  retained,  for  buying  cloth  for  the  king 
and  queen;  which  the  taylor  cut  out  in  the  presence  of 
witnesses.  But,  amongst  the  most  important  personages 
of  the  household,  were  the  king’s  fools;  of  which  Charles 
had  two. 

Music  and  dancing  have  always  formed  the  character- 
istic amusements  of  the  French  nation.  At  this  time,  they 
were  held  in  high  esteem,  and  encouragement  was  given  to 
all  who  taught  them.  No  one  in  France  was  more  passion- 
ately fond  of  music,  than  Charles.  In  Paris,  as  in  most  great 
towns,  the  musicians  formed  a company,  under  the  direction 
of  a chief,  who  was  called  46  The  king  <of  the  fiddlers;”  and 
whose  business  it  was  to  keep  the  corps  in  order,  and  en- 
force the  observance  of  their  laws. 

This  period  is  remarkable,  for  the  introduction  of  paper- 
manufactories,  into  France.  The  art  of  clock -making  had 
been  greatly  neglected,  since  the  famous  Gerbert  had,  about 
the  tenth  century,  invented  clocks  that  moved  by  wheels. 
During  the  day,  the  sun,  or  else  a sand-glass,  served  for  a 
clock;  and,  in  the  night,  a wax-light,  marked,  at  different 


124 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


distances,  to  indicate  the  hours.  The  first  large  clock,  in- 
troduced into  France,  was  the  work  of  a German,  named 
Henry  de  Vic,  who  was  invited  to  Paris,  by  Charles. 

CHARLES  VI. 

Rattle  of  Aging ourt. 

1380 — 1422. 

Both  England  and  France  were  now  under  the  govern- 
ment of  minors;  and  the  jealousies  between  the  three  uncles 
of  Charles  VI.,  the  dukes  of  Anjou,  Berri,  and  Burgundy, 
distracted  the  affairs  of  France,  even  more  than  the  rivalry 
of  the  three  uncles  of  Richard  II.,  disordered  those  of 
England. 

The  ceremony  of  coronation  was  performed,  at  Rlieims, 
in  presence  of  the  king’s  uncles,  and  most  of  the  principal 
nobility  of  France.  At  the  feast  which  succeeded,  the 
dishes  were  placed  upon  the  table,  and  the  guests  waited 
upon,  by  nobles  arrayed  in  cloth  of  gold,  and  mounted  on 
superb  coursers. 

1386  Though  the  people  were  burthened  with  taxes,  the 
king  made  vast  preparations  for  an  invasion  of  Eng- 
land. Fifteen-hundred  vessels  were  accordingly  collected, 
at  Sluys,  destined  for  the  embarkation  of  a hundred- thou  sand 
men,  headed  by  the  king,  in  person.  He  had  also  caused  a 
singular  edifice  to  be  constructed,  of  prodigious  magnitude; 
this  was  a town  of  wood,  three-thousand  paces  in  diameter, 
fortified  with  towers  and  intrenchments,  and  capable  of  con- 
taining a whole  army.  It  was  intended  to  serve  as  a secure 
retreat  for  the  troops,  after  they  had  landed  in  England; 
and  was  so  constructed,  that  the  different  parts  of  it  might, 
in  a very  short  space  of  time,  be  united.  This  gigantic  ap- 
paratus was  embarked  on  board  a second  fleet.  The  con- 
quest of  England  was  considered  certain.  But,  being 
encountered,  in  the  channel,  by  a storm,  the  ships  were  dis- 
persed, and  many  of  them  wrecked,  upon  the  English  coast; 
amongst  which,  were  several  that  had  on  board  parts  of  the 
wooden  town.  A council  was  then  held.  It  was  determined 
to  defer  the  invasion  of  England,  till  the  following  year;  and 
the  court  returned  to  Paris,  to  form  new  plans  for  the  ensu- 
ing campaign. 

As  Charles  advanced  in  years,  the  factions  were  gradually 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE* 


125 


composed.  His  uncle,  the  duke  of  Anjou,  died;  and  the 
king,  assuming  the  reins  of  government,  displayed  symptoms 
of  genius  and  spirit,  which  revived  the  drooping  hopes  of 
his  countrymen. 

But  this  promising  state  of  affairs,  was  of  short  duration. 
The  king  had  lately  recovered  from  a dangerous  malady, 
1392  Am*ens>  hi  which,  he  had,  as  in  many  instances 
before,  shown  strong  symptoms  of  an  alarming  de- 
rangement of  intellect.  The  day  on  which  he  began  a march 
for  Brittany,  he  had  been  more  languid  and  drowsy,  than 
usual.  In  entering  the  forest  of  Mans,  at  some  distance 
from  his  troops,  and  attended  by  a few  followers,  a figure, 
clothed  in  white,  with  bare  head,  and  naked  feet,  suddenly 
starting  from  the  trees,  seized  the  bridle  of  his  horse,  and, 
in  a menacing  tone,  cried  out,  66  King!  proceed  not — return 
— thou  art  betrayed !” — and  as  suddenly  retreated.  Charles 
gave  no  other  signs  of  the  impression  made  by  this  strange 
circumstance,  than  by  an  alteration  in  his  countenance,  and 
a start  of  horror.  On  quitting  the  wood,  he  advanced  to  a 
sandy  plain,  where  the  heat  was  insupportable.  His  page, 
who  carried  his  lance,  let  it  fall  upon  the  helmet,  borne  by 
another.  Aroused  by  the  tinkling  noise,  he  grasped  his 
sword,  and  assailed  his  followers;  when,  having  been,  with 
some  difficulty,  disarmed,  and  being  exhausted,  by  his  ef- 
forts, he  sunk  into  a state  of  torpid  insensibility;  and,  tied 
down  in  a cart,  was  re-conveyed  to  Amiens. 

Although  Charles  partly  recovered  from  that  derange- 
ment, yet,  he  was  subject  to  so  frequent  relapses,  that  he 
grew  incapable  of  governing  the  kingdom,  upon  any  set- 
tled plan. 

1 393.  His  first  relapse  is  said  to  have  been  caused  by  the 
following  accident.  The  queen  having  married  one 
of  her  maids  of  honour  to  a person  of  distinction,  the  nuptials 
were  intended  to  be  celebrated,  with  great  pomp.  Amongst 
other  amusements,  there  was  to  be  a masquerade;  a circum- 
stance which  induced  five  young  noblemen,  to  appear  as 
naked  savages;  and,  such  was  the  indelicacy  of  the  times, 
that  the  king  made  one  of  the  party.  Their  dress,  contrived 
to  sit  close  to  their  bodies,  was  of  linen,  impregnated  with 
resin;  which,  when  hot,  had  been  covered  with  fur;  and  the 
secret  was  so  well  preserved,  that,  when  they  appeared, 
they  were  not  known.  The  dutchess  of  Berri  took  hold  of 
the  king,  and  told  him  she  would  not  let  him  go,  until  she 


126 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


knew  who  he  was.  Some  of  the  party  now  began  to  dance, 
when  the  duke  of  Orleans,  out  of  levity,  making  a feint  of 
running  a lighted  torch  against  one  of  the  savages,  set  his 
combustible  habit  on  fire.  The  flame  was  quickly  com- 
municated to  the  rest;  and  this  scene  of  wanton  mirth,  was 
soon  changed  into  sorrow  and  distress.  But,  in  the  midst 
of  their  torments,  the  masks  continually  cried  out,  66  Save 
the  king!  Save  the  king!” — and  the  dutchess  of  Berri,  sud- 
denly recollecting  that  he  must  be  the  mask  that  stood  next 
to  her,  threw  her  robes  over  him,  and,  wrapping  them  closely 
about  him,  extinguished  the  flame.  One  of  the  masks,  by 
leaping  into  a cistern  of  water,  saved  his  life;  four  were  so 
terribly  burned,  that  they  died  in  two  days;  and  the  king 
was  so  much  affected  by  the  fright,  that  it  occasioned  a 
return  of  his  disorder,  which  attacked  him  generally  four  or 
five  times  every  year,  during  the  remainder  of  his  life. 

Even  at  this  remote  period,  we  cannot  avoid  sympathiz- 
ing with  this  unhappy  prince.  Though  environed  by  a gay 
and  splendid  court,  this  wretched  victim  of  insanity,  and 
also  his  children,  were  often  suffered  to  want  the  common 
necessaries  of  life:  and,  in  the  violent  paroxysms  of  his 
disorder,  so  shamefully  was  he  neglected,  as  to  be  reduced 
to  situations  the  most  humiliating,  as  well  as  the  most  re- 
volting to  human  nature. 

The  administration  now  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  dukes 
of  Berri  and  Burgundy;  who  excluded  the  duke  of  Orleans, 
the  king’s  brother,  on  account  of  his  youth,  from  any  share 
in  the  government.  The  case,  however,  was  very  different, 
with  regard  to  the  dutchess  of  Orleans.  Young,  beautiful, 
and  insinuating,  she  governed  the  king,  at  her  pleasure.  In 
the  time  of  his  malady,  he  recognised  no  one  else,  not  even 
the  queen.  Hence,  it  was  rumoured,  by  the  dutchess  of 
Burgundy,  that  she  had  bewitched  the  king;  and,  to  heighten 
the  odium,  it  was  insinuated,  that  the  duke  of  Orleans  had 
bewitched  the  queen. 

The  duke  of  Burgundy,  besides  a vast  domain,  had  the 
support  of  his  two  brothers,  whose  property  was  consider- 
able, and  power  extensive.  He  was  father-in-law  to  the 
heir  apparent;  had  contracted  his  eldest  son,  the  count  of 
Charolois,  to  a daughter  of  the  king;  and,  to  strengthen  his 
connexion  with  the  reigning  family,  he  had  concluded  a 
marriage  between  the  duke  of  Touraine,  second  son  of 
Charles,  and  his  own  niece,  Jaqueline  of  Bavaria. 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


127 


1405  On  ^ie  ^ea^T  duke  of  Burgundy,  his  son 

John  disputed  the  administration  with  the  duke  of 
Orleans.  But,  by  the  instrumentality  of  hired  ruffians,  the 
former  procured  his  rival  to  be  assassinated,  in  the  streets  of 
Paris.  The  commission  of  this  horrid  crime,  rendered  the 
war  implacable  between  the  parties;  and  seemed  to  stop 
every  avenue  to  accommodation  and  peace.  The  princes 
of  the  blood,  combining  with  the  young  duke  of  Orleans  and 
his  brothers,  made  violent  war  upon  the  duke  of  Burgundy; 
and  the  unhappy  king,  seized  sometimes  by  one  party,  and 
sometimes  by  the  other,  transferred  alternately,  to  each,  an 
appearance  of  the  royal  sanction  to  their  acts. 

France  now  lay  at  the  mercy  of  her  neighbours.  There 
was  one  power  that  did  not  view  these  disorders  with  in- 
difference. The  advantage  which  might  be  taken  of  them, 
was  easily  perceived  in  England.  Richard  II.,  the  successor 
of  Edward  III.,  was  an  indolent  and  dissipated  prince; 
Henry  IV.,  the  usurper  of  his  throne,  prevented,  by  secret 
conspiracies  and  open  rebellions,  in  an  unpopular  reign  of 
thirteen  years,  from  attempting  any  foreign  enterprise,  had 
alternately  assisted,  with  troops,  the  contending  factions,  by 
which  France  had  been  distracted.  The  same  unpopularity 
did  not  attend  his  son.  Impelled  by  the  vigour  of  youth, 
and  the  ardour  of  ambition,  and  reviving  the  claim  to  the 
French  crown,  which  had  been  renounced  by  Edward,  in 
the  peace  of  Bretigni,  Henry  V.  resolved  to  carry  war  into 
the  very  heart  of  France. 

Henry  landed  near  Harfleur,  in  Normandy,  with 
thirty-thousand  men,  chiefly  archers.  He  imme- 
diately invested  this  place,  and  took  it,  by  storm,  after  a 
siege  of  five  weeks.  Fatigue,  however,  and  the  unusual 
heat  of  the  weather,  had  so  much  wasted  and  enfeebled  the 
English  army,  that  he  could  enter  upon  no  other  enterprise; 
and  he  even  sent  back  his  transports,  and  a considerable 
part  of  his  army,  to  England.  Above  fifty-thousand  were 
already  assembled,  in  Normandy,  to  oppose  him,  under  the 
constable  d’Albert;  a force,  if  rightly  managed,  sufficient 
either  to  defeat  the  invaders  in  the  open  field,  or  to  harass 
and  totally  destroy  them,  on  their  march.  Henry,  therefore, 
offered  to  sacrifice  his  conquest  of  Harfleur,  for  a safe  pas- 
sage to  Calais;  but,  his  proposal  being  rejected,  he  deter- 
mined to  force  his  way,  and  what  he  could  not  obtain  by 
treaty,  to  accomplish  by  his  valour. 


128 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


'When  he  approached  the  Somme,  he  saw  bodies  of  men, 
on  the  opposite  banks,  ready  to  dispute  his  passage.  His 
provisions  were  intercepted,  his  soldiers  languished  under 
sickness  and  fatigue — his  situation  was  altogether  desperate. 
But  despair  is  often  a substitute  for  hope.  In  this  extremity, 
he  was  so  fortunate  as  to  seize  an  unguarded  ford,  near  St. 
Quintin;  over  which,  he  safely  carried  his  army,  and  then 
bent  his  march  towards  Calais;  the  much  desired  goal  of  his 
safety  and  repose.  But  his  escape  was  not  yet  secured. 
He  was  still  exposed  to  imminent  danger,  from  the  French 
army,  drawn  up  on  the  plains  of  Agincourt;  and  posted  in 
such  a manner,  that  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  proceed, 
without  a battle. 

To  a commander  of  less  bravery  than  Henry,  the  pros- 

f>ect  now  before  him,  would  have  been  terrific.  The  Eng- 
ish  army,  at  this  time,  consisted  of  only  fifteen-thousand 
men;  one-half  the  number  that  he  had  disembarked.  The 
French  consisted  of  sixty -thousand;  being  four  times  more 
numerous,  than  the  English;  headed  by  the  dauphin,  and  all 
the  princes  of  the  royal  blood.  Henry’s  situation  resembled 
that  of  Edward  III.,  at  Crecy,  and  of  the  Black  Prince,  at 
Poictiers;  and  he  observed  the  same  prudent  conduct,  that 
had  given  success  to  those  illustrious  commanders.  He 
drew  up  his  army  upon  a narrow  ground, between  two  woods, 
which  guarded  his  flanks;  and,  in  that  posture,  he  firmly 
awaited  the  attack. 

He  rode  along  the  lines,  mounted  on  a white  charger, 
with  a golden  crown  affixed  to  his  helmet.  Four  royal 
banners  were  displayed  before  him;  and  he  was  followed  by 
several  led-horses,  richly  caparisoned,  and  surrounded  by 
the  chief  officers  of  his  court  and  army.  He  strove  to 
animate  his  troops.  He  told  them,  that  the  French  had  de- 
termined to  cut  three  fingers  oft*  the  right  hand,  of  every 
prisoner  that  they  should  take;  and  he  declared,  that  every 
soldier  in  his  army,  who,  on  that  day,  conducted  himself 
with  gallantry,  should  thenceforth  be  deemed  a gentleman, 
and  enjoy  the  privilege  of  wearing  a coat-of-arms.  The 
French  archers,  on  horseback,  and  the  men  at  arms,  ad- 
vanced precipitately  upon  the  English  archers;  who  had 
fixed  palisades  in  their  front,  and  safely  plied  their  assailants, 
from  behind  that  defence,  with  a shower  of  arrows,  that 
nothing  could  resist. 

While  the  first  line  of  the  English  were  retiring,  to  re- 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


129 


cover  their  breath,  behind  the  second,  where  Henry  com- 
manded in  person,  the  duke  of  Alen^on  advanced,  with  the 
second  division  of  the  Freneh,  in  hopes  of  restoring  the 
battle.  This  shock  was  more  bloody  than  the  first,  and 
victory  long  remained  doubtful.  Eighteen  French  knights, 
who  had  entered  into  a solemn  compact  to  take  the  English 
monarch,  either  dead  or  alive,  forced  their  way  through  the 
ranks,  and  approached  his  person.  One  of  them  aimed  a 
blow  at  his  head,  with  a battle-axe;  which,  though  it  did 
not  pierce  his  helmet,  lor  a while  deprived  him  of  his 
senses.  His  danger  was  extreme.  He  must  probably  have 
fallen  a victim  to  these  associates,  but  for  the  generous 
spirit  of  David  Gam,  and  two  other  Welsh  officers;  who, 
rushing  between  him  and  his  assailants,  sacrificed  their 
lives  to  the  safety  of  their  king.  When  he  recovered  from 
the  blow,  perceiving  the  three  gallant  soldiers,  to  whom  he 
was  indebted  for  his  preservation,  expiring  at  his  feet,  he 
knighted  them,  as  they  lay  on  the  field  of  battle.  The 
French  knights  were  all  killed:  1 i 


Gloucester,  who  fought  by  his  side.  They  continued  to 
advance,  with  rapidity,  and  were  soon  separated  from  their 
troops.  The  duke  of  Gloucester  was  felled  to  the  ground, 
by  the  stroke  of  a mace;  and  Henry,  covering  him  with  his 
shield,  sustained  the  shock  of  his  numerous  assailants,  until 
the  duke  of  York  arrived,  to  his  relief;  when,  Gloucester 
being  conveyed  from  the  field,  the  king  renewed  the  attack, 
and  his  troops  bore  down  all  before  them. 

The  clay  soil,  moistened  with  rain,  proved  another  im- 
pediment to  the  charge  of  the  French  cavalry.  Its  force 
was  thereby  broken.  The  wounded  men  and  horses  dis- 
composed their  ranks;  the  narrow  compass,  in  which  they 
were  pent,  prevented  them  from  recovering  any  order;  the 
whole  army  was  a scene  of  route  and  confusion,  terror 
and  dismay,  when  Henry  ordered  his  archers  to  advance. 
They  accordingly  fell,  with  their  battle-axes,  upon  the 
French,  and  l^wed  them  to  pieces,  without  obstruction. 
The  field  was  soon  covered,  with  killed  and  wounded,  dis- 
mounted and  overthrown. 

Few  victories  were  ever  more  complete,  than  this  of  Agin- 
court.  The  loss  of  the  English,  in  killed,  did  not  exceed 
one-hundred  men — that  of  the  French  was  enormous.  The 
constable  d’Albert,  and  seven  princes  of  the  blood,  were 


midst  of  the  enemy,  attended 


130 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


slain;  five  princes  were  taken  prisoners,  with  fourteen-thou- 
sand persons,  of  different  ranks,  and  above  ten-thousand 
French  were  left  dead  upon  the  field. 

The  three  great  battles  of  Crecy,  Poictiers,  and  Agin- 
court,  bear  a singular  resemblance  to  each  other.  There 
appear,  in  all,  the  same  temerity  in  the  English  princes: 
the  same  imprudent  conduct,  in  the  French.  The  imme- 
diate consequences,  too,  of  these  signal  victories,  were  simi- 
lar. Instead  of  pushing  the  French  with  vigour,  and  taking 
advantage  of  their  consternation,  the  victors  seem  to  have 
relaxed  their  efforts,  and  allowed  the  enemy  leisure  to  re- 
cover strength.  Henry  intermitted  not  his  march  a mo- 
ment, after  the  battle  of  Agincourt.  He  carried  his  prisoners 
tp  Calais,  and  thence  to  England;  he  even  concluded  a 
truce  with  the  vanquished;  and  it  was  not  until  after  an 
interval  of  two  years,  that  any  body  of  English  troops  ap- 
peared again  in  France. 

The  cause,  however,  of  those  frequent  interruptions  to 
hostilities,  is  not  very  difficult  to  discover.  They  were  the 
effect,  rather  of  necessity,  than  choice.  All  the  European 
princes,  in  that  age,  being  poor,  their  military  operations 
were  mere  incursions,  without  any  settled  plan,  or  conti- 
nuous design. 

But,  during  this  intermission  of  attacks  from  England, 
France  was  exposed  to  all  the  furies  of  civil  war.  The  se- 
veral parties  became  daily  more  enraged  against  each  other, 
and  every  spark  of  patriotism  seemed  extinct. 

Incited  by  the  duke  of  Burgundy,  the  populace 
forced  open  the  city  prisons,  murdered  the  gaolers 
and  guards,  made  the  prisoners  walk  out,  one  by  one,  and 
massacred  them  all,  as  they  passed,  without  distinction  of 
rank,  age,  or  sex.  The  grand  Chatalet  made  a vigorous 
resistance.  Its  inhabitants  ascended  the  towers,  and  at- 
tempted to  repel  the  attacks  of  the  mob;  exhibiting,  for 
some  time,  the  anomalous  sight  of  prisoners  sustaining  a 
siege:  the  building,  however,  having  at  length  been  fired, 
in  different  parts,  they  were  compelled  to  surrender.  The 
rabble  then  forced  them  to  throw  themselves  from  the 
summit  of  the  towers,  into  the  streets  belowr,  on  pikes  which 
they  held  to  receive  them.  In  the  court  yard  of  the  palace, 
and  in  the  entrance  of  the  gates  of  Paris,  the  mob  stood  up 
to  their  ancles  in  human  blood! 

While  the  nation  was  thus  laying  suicidal  hands  upon 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


131 


itself,  and  was  so  ill  prepared  to  resist  a foreign  enemy, 
Henry  appeared,  in  Normandy,  at  the  head  of  forty -thou- 
sand men;  and  made  himself  master  of  Falaise  and  Cher- 
bourg, Caen,  Evreux,  and  Rouen.  The  inhabitants  of 
the  latter  place,  made  a most  obstinate  resistance.  Enraged 
at  the  prolongation  of  the  siege,  Henry  threatened  them  with 
extermination,  unless  they  speedily  surrendered.  He  or- 
dered gibbets  to  be  erected,  around  the  wails  of  the  city, 
to  which  he  suspended  all  the  prisoners  he  had  taken. 
Fifty-thousand  of  the  inhabitants  had  already  perished. 
Twelve-thousand  persons,  of  both  sexes,  were  dismissed 
from  the  town,  as  useless  consumers  of  human  food:  but 
the  besiegers  refused  them  a passage  through  their  camp, 
and  drove  them  back,  into  the  ditches;  where  they  were  ex- 
posed to  the  weather,  to  hunger  and  thirst,  and  to  the  bails 
and  arrows  of  the  enemy,  as  well  as  to  the  missiles  of  their 
friends.  Baskets  were  let  down,  from  the  top  of  the  walls, 
to  receive  several  new-born  infants,  to  whom  their  mothers 
had  given  birth,  in  the  ditch;  which,  as  soon  as  baptized, 
were  returned,  to  their  expiring  parents,  lest  their  stay 
might  increase  the  consumption  of  provisions.  Still,  the 
people  of  Rouen  did  not  lose  courage.  They  were  excited 
to  this  spirited  resistance,  by  Alain  Blanchard.  Under  his 
conduct,  ten-thousand  of  the  citizens  agreed  to  make  a des- 
perate sally:  a part  of  them  had  already  reached  the  enemy’s 
camp,  when  the  bridge  suddenly  gave  way — -the  perfidious 
governor  having  previously  caused  the  timber,  by  which  it 
was  supported,  to  be  sawed  nearly  through — and  let  all 
those  who  were  on  it,  fall  into  the  river.  But,  even  treachery 
did  not  force  them  to  surrender;  and  Henry,  perceiving 
their  desperate  resolution,  allowed  them  an  honourable 
capitulation. 

Notwithstanding  these  advantages,  Henry  made  offers  of 
peace,  to  both  parties;  to  the  queen  and  the  duke  of  Bur- 
gundy, on  the  one  hand — who,  having  possession  of  the 
king’s  person,  carried  the  appearance  of  legal  authority — 
and  to  the  dauphin,  on  the  other;  who,  being  the  undoubted 
heir  of  the  monarchy,  was  adhered  to,  by  every  one  that 
regarded  the  true  interest  of  his  country.  After  many  ne- 
gotiations, Henry  proposed  to  the  queen  and  the  duke  of 
Burgundy,  to  make  peace  with  them,  to  espouse  the  princess 
Catherine,  daughter  of  Charles  VI.;  and  to  accept  of  all  the 
provinces  ceded  to  Edward  III.,  by  the  treaty  of  Bretigni, 


132 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


1419  ^ie  Edition  of  Normandy,  in  full  and  entire 

sovereignty.  These  terms  were  not  rejected.  There 
remained  only  some  circumstances  to  be  adjusted;  but,  in 
this  interval,  the  duke  of  Burgundy  secretly  finished  a treaty 
with  the  dauphin;  and  these  two  princes  agreed  to  share 
the  authority,  during  king  Charles’s  life;  and  to  unite  their 
arms,  in  expelling  foreign  enemies. 

This  alliance,  which  seemed  to  cut  off  from  Henry  all 
hopes  of  further  success,  proved,  in  the  issue,  the  most  fa- 
vourable event  that  could  have  happened  for  his  pretensions. 
The  two  princes  agreed  to  an  interview,  in  order  to  concert 
the  means  of  rendering  effectual  their  common  attack  upon 
the  English;  but,  how  they  could  venture  on  this  conference, 
seemed  difficult  to  contrive.  The  assassination  perpetrated 
by  the  duke  of  Burgundy,  and,  still  more,  his  open  avowal 
of  the  deed,  tended  to  dissolve  all  the  bands  of  civil  society; 
and  even  men  of  honour,  might  deem  it  just,  to  retaliate 
upon  the  author.  The  duke,  therefore,  agreed  to  all  the 
contrivances,  for  mutual  security,  proposed  by  the  ministers 
of  the  dauphin.  They  came  to  Montereau:  the  duke  lodged 
in  the  castle;  the  dauphin,  in  the  town;  which  was  divided 
from  the  castle,  by  the  river  Yonne.  The  bridge  between 
them  was  chosen  for  the  place  of  interview.  Two  rails 
were  drawn  across  the  bridge:  the  gates,  on  each  side,  were 
guarded;  one  by  the  officers  of  the  dauphin,  the  other  by 
those  of  the  duke.  The  princes  were  to  enter  the  interme- 
diate space,  by  the  opposite  gates,  each  accompanied  by  ten 
persons.  But  no  precautions  are  sufficient,  where  the  prin- 
ciples of  honour  are  abandoned.  The  dauphin’s  attendants 
were  zealous  partisans  of  the  house  of  Orleans;  and  they 
determined  to  seize  the  opportunity  of  revenging  the  murder 
of  the  prince.  They  no  sooner  entered  within  the  rails, 
than  they  drew  their  swords,  and  attacked  the  duke  of  Bur- 
gundy: his  friends,  being  astonished,  made  no  defence;  and 
they  all  either  shared  his  fate,  or  were  taken  prisoners,  by 
the  retinue  of  the  dauphin. 

The  extreme  youth  of  this  prince,  made  it  doubtful, 
whether  he  had  been  admitted  into  the  secret  of  the  intend- 
ed murder:  but,  as  it  was  committed  within  his  view,  by 
his  most  intimate  friends,  the  blame  of  the  perfidious  action, 
fell  entirely  upon  him.  ^ 

The  whole  state  of  affairs  was  changed,  by  that  unexpected 
incident.  The  citizens  of  Paris,  passionately  devoted  to  the 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


1S5 


family  of  Burgundy,  were  excited  to  the  highest  fury,  against 
the  dauphin.  But,  above  all,  Philip,  count  of  Charolois, 
now  duke  of  Burgundy,  thought  himself  bound,  by  every 
tie  of  honour  and  of  duty,  to  revenge  the  murder  of  his 
father.  Every  consideration  of  national  interest,  was  buried 
in  oblivion.  The  subjection  to  a foreign  enemy,  the  expul- 
sion of  the  lawful  heir,  the  degradation  of  the  kingdom,  ap- 
peared but  small  evils,  if  they  led  to  the  gratification  of 
revenge.  A treaty  was  concluded,  by  the  duke,  with  the 
X40Q  king  of  England,  at  Troyes.  Through  the  whole 
negotiation,  Henry’s  will  seemed  to  be  a law:  nothing 
was  attended  to,  but  his  advantage.  The  principal  articles 
of  the  treaty,  were,  that  Henry  should  espouse  the  princess 
Catherine,  daughter  of  the  French  king:  that  Charles,  during 
his  life,  should  enjoy  the  title  and  dignity  of  king  of  France; 
that  Henry  should  be  acknowledged  heir  of  the  monarchy, 
and  be  intrusted  with  the  present  administration  of  the 
government:  that  the  kingdom  should  descend  to  his  heirs 
general:  that  France  and  England  should  for  ever  be  united 
under  one  king:  and  that  Henry  should  join  his  forces  with 
those  of  king  Charles  and  the  duke  of  Burgundy,  in  order 
to  subdue  the  adherents  of  Charles,  the  “ pretended’’ 
dauphin. 

Such,  was  the  tenor  of  this  famous  treaty;  acceded  to, 
through  animosity;  to  be  carried  into  execution,  by  the 
sword.  There  was  a palpable  deficiency  in  Henry’s  claim 
to  the  crown  of  France,  which  no  art  could  palliate.  Besides 
the  insuperable  objection,  to  which  Edward  the  Third’s  pre- 
tensions were  exposed,  Henry  was  not  the  heir  of  that 
monarch.  If  female  succession  were  even  admitted,  the 
right  had  devolved  upon  the  earl  of  Marche;  for  Henry 
enjoyed  the  throne  ot  England,  by  the  usurpation  of  his 
father. 

It  behooved  Henry  to  take  the  tide  of  victory  at  the  flow; 
to  allow  men  no  time  for  reason  or  reflection.  In  a few 
days  after  the  treaty  was  signed,  he  espoused  the  princess 
Catherine,  carried  his  father-in-law  to  Paris,  took  posses- 
sion of  that  capital,  obtained  from  the  parliament  a ratifica- 
tion of  the  treaty,  and  turned  his  arms,  with  success,  against 
the  adherents  oi  the  dauphin.  Sens,  Montereau,  and  Melun, 
were  soon  subdued;  and,  being  constrained  to  return  to 
X42!  England,  for  supplies,  he  left  his  uncle,  the  duke  of 
Exeter,  governor  of  Paris. 

M 


134 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


A reverse  of  fortune  was  suffered,  during  Henry’s  ab 
sence.  In  a battle,  fought  at  Bauge,  a division  of  his  army 
was  defeated,  and  his  uncle,  the  duke  of  Clarence,  killed. 
But  his  arrival  in  France,  with  a reinforcement  of  twenty- 
eight-thousand  men,  was  more  than  sufficient  to  repair  the 
loss.  He  made  himself  master  of  Dreaux,  without  a blow: 
and  of  Meaux,  after  a siege  of  eight  months.  The  governor 
of  the  latter  was  brave;  but  he  was  also  cruel.  He  was  ac- 
customed to  hang  all  the  English  and  Burgundians,  who  fell 
into  his  hands;  and  Henry,  in  retaliation  of  his  barbarity, 
ordered  him  to  be  hung,  on  the  same  tree,  that  he  had  made 
the  instrument  of  his  savage  executions. 

14.92  The  (‘auphin  was  length  chased  beyond  the 
Loire,  and  his  party  threatened  with  total  destruc- 
tion; and,  to  fill  the  measure  of  Henry’s  good  fortune,  his 
queen  became  the  mother  of  a son;  who  was  called  by  his 
father’s  name,  and  regarded,  both  at  Paris,  and  at  London, 
as  the  future  heir  of  both  the  kingdoms. 

To  an  ambitious  mind,  the  situation  of  the  king  of  Eng- 
land was  most  glorious.  Like  Alexander,  he  had  subdued 
with  gigantic  strides;  and,  like  Caesar,  he  had  only  shown 
himself,  and  conquered.  But,  as  was  the  fate  of  both  those 
ancient  heroes,  his  march  was  suddenly  arrested.  He  had 
now  reached  the  highest  step,  in  his  ascent  to  worldly  honour; 
and  all  his  dazzling  prospects  were  withdrawn,  by  the  hand 
of  death.  He  was  seized  with  a disorder,  which  the  surgeons 
had  not  then  skill  enough  to  cure;  and  expired,  in  the 
thirty-fourth  year  of  his  age,  and  the  tenth  of  his  reign. 

He  left  the  regency  of  France  to  his  eldest  brother,  the 
duke  of  Bedford;  that  of  England,  to  his  youngest,  the  duke 
of  Exeter;  and  the  care  of  his  son’s  person,  to  the  earl  of 
W arwick. 

In  less  than  two  months  after  the  death  of  Henry,  Charles 
VI.  terminated  his  unhappy  life;  in  the  fifty-filth  year  of  his 
age,  and  the  forty- third  of  one  of  the  most  calamitous  reigns 
ever  experienced  by  France. 

The  same  wretchedness  that  marked  his  life,  accompanied 
him  to  the  tomb.  Not  one  prince  of  the  Gallic  line,  was 
seen  to  follow  his  last  obsequies;  and,  to  defray  the  expenses 
of  his  funeral  honours,  the  parliament  ordained  that  his 
personal  effects  should  be  sold;  a signal  instance  of  disloyalty 
and  neglect!  Attended  by  the  duke  of  Bedford,  his  remains 
were  deposited,  with  ostentatious  pomp,  in  the  royal  sepul- 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


135 


chre  of  St.  Dennis;  and,  at  the  close  of  the  ceremonial  rites, 
a herald,  having  exhorted  all  present  to  pray  for  the  repose 
of  his  soul,  cried  aloud,  66  Long  live  Henry  of  Lancaster, 
king  of  France  and  of  England!’5 

CHARLES  VII. 

Maid  of  Orleans. 

1422 — 1461. 

Charles,  on  the  death  of  his  father,  was  in  his  twenty- 
sixth  year;  and,  although  Henry  VI.  of  England,  then  only 
nine  months  old,  had  been  proclaimed  king  of  France,  at  the 
funeral,  yet  the  dauphin  resolved  to  assert  his  claim  to  the 
throne.  But,  when  the  state  of  their  affairs  was  relatively 
examined,  with  a. superficial  eye,  every  advantage  seemed 
on  the  side  of  Henry;  and  the  total  expulsion  of  Charles 
appeared  an  event,  which  might  naturally  be  expected,  from 
the  superior  power  of  his  rival.  Though  Henry  was  yet  in 
his  infancy,  the  duke  of  Bedford,  who  had  been  appointed 
regent,  by  Henry  V.,  was  the  most  accomplished  prince  of 
the  age;  distinguished,  alike,  for  his  experience  and  prudence, 
generosity  and  valour.  The  whole  power  of  England  was 
at  his  command.  He  was  seconded  by  the  most  renowned 
generals  of  Europe — the  earls  of  Somerset  and  Warwick; 
Salisbury,  Suffolk,  and  Arundel;  Sir  John  Talbot,  and  Sir 
John  Fastolfe:  and,  besides  Guienne,  the  ancient  inheritance 
of  England,  he  was  master  of  the  capital,  and  of  all  the 
northern  provinces  of  France;  which  were  best  enabled  to 
furnish  him  with  supplies,  both  of  men  and  money,  and  to 
assist  and  support  his  English  force. 

But  Charles,  also,  was  possessed  of  some  advantages, 
which  promised  him  success.  He  was  the  true  and  un- 
doubted heir  to  the  throne  of  France.  All  men  who  de- 
sired the  independence  of  their  country,  looked  to  him,  as 
their  only  refuge;  and,  though  most  of  the  princes  of  the 
blood,  were,  since  the  battle  of  Agincourt,  detained  pri- 
soners, in  England,  the  inhabitants  of  their  demesnes,  then- 
friends  and  vassals,  all  declared  a zealous  attachment  to  the 
king. 

Charles  himself  was  of  a character,  well  calculated  to 
become  the  object  of  this  benevolent  sentiment.  He  was  a 
prince  of  a most  friendly  and  benign  disposition,  of  easy  and 


136 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


familiar  manners,  and  of  a just  and  sound,  though  not  of  a 
very  vigorous  understanding. 

New  succours  came  daily  over  from  Scotland,  and  filled 
the  armies  of  the  French  king.  Tire  earl  of  Douglas  con- 
ducted a reinforcement  of  five-thousand  men;  and  it  was 
justly  to  be  dreaded,  by  the  duke  of  Bedford,  that  the 
Scots,  by  commencing  open  hostilities  in  the  north  of  Eng- 
land, would  occasion  a considerable  diversion  of  the  English 
power,  and  ease  Charles,  in  some  measure,  of  that  load,  by 
which  he  was,  at  present,  so  grievously  oppressed. 

14^3  Though  the  chief  seat  of  Charles’s  strength,  lay  in 
the  southern  provinces,  beyond  the  Loire;  his  party 
was  in  possession  also  of  some  fortresses  in  the  north,  and 
even  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Paris;  and  it  behooved  the 
duke  of  Bedford  first  to  clear  these  countries  of  his  enemy, 
before  he  thought  of  more  distant  conquests.  The  castle  of 
Dorsoy  was  taken  by  him,  after  a siege  of  six  weeks;  nor 
was  it  long,  until  that  of  Noyelle,  and  the  towns  of  Rue, 
Pont-sur-Seine,  Vertus,  Montaign,  Gaillon,La  Charite,  Ivri, 
and  Verneuiil,  underwent  the  same  fate. 

The  engagement  at  Verneuil,  was  most  bloody  and  de- 
structive. Having  collected  ail  army  of  fourteen-thousand 
men,  one  half  of  whom  were  Scots,  Charles  sent  them 
thither,  under  the  command  of  the  earl  of  Buchan,  constable 
of  France,  attended  by  his  countryman,  the  earl  of  Douglas, 
the  duke  of  Alenin,  the  mareschal  de  la  Fayette,  the  count 
of  Aumale,  and  the  viscount  of  Narbonne.  The  numbers 
were  nearly  equal,  in  this  rencounter.  The  constable  drew 
up  his  forces  under  the  walls  of  Verneuil,  resolved  to  await 
the  enemy’s  attack.  But  the  impatience  of  Narbonne,  who 
broke  his  ranks,  and  obliged  the  whole  line  to  follow  him, 
in  hurry  and  confusion,  was  the  cause  of  his  misfortune. 
The  English  archers,  fixing  their  palisades  before  them,  ac- 
cording to  their  usual  custom,  sent  a volley  of  arrows,  into 
the  thickest  of  the  French  army;  and,  though  beaten  from 
their  ground,  and  obliged  to  take  shelter  amongst  the  bag- 
gage, they  soon  rallied,  and  continued  to  make  great  slaugh- 
ter amongst  their  opponents.  The  duke  of  Bedford,  in  the 
mean  time,  made  a serious  impression  upon  the  French, 
chased  them  off’  the  field,  and  rendered  the  victory  complete. 
The  constable  himself  was  slain,  with  the  earl  of  Douglas 
and  his  son,  and  many  other  considerable  nobility.  The 
duke  of  Alen<?on,  the  mareschal  de  la  Fayette,  the  lords  of 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


157 


Gaueour  and  M or  ternary  were  taken  prisoners.  There  fell 
about  four-thousand  of  the  French,  and  sixteen-hundred  of 
the  English;  a loss  so  unusual,  on  the  side  of  the  victors, 
that  the  duke  of  Bedford  prohibited  all  rejoicings,  for  his 
success. 

The  condition  of  the  king  of  France  appeared  now  almost 
desperate.  He  had  lost  the  flower  of  his  army,  and  the 
bravest  of  his  nobles.  He  had  no  resource,  either  for  re- 
cruiting or  maintaining  his  troops.  He  wanted  money  even 
for  his  personal  subsistence.  The  whole  amount  in  his 
treasury,  was  only  four  crowns.  Though  ail  parade  of  a 
court  was  banished,  it  was  with  difficulty  he  could  obtain  the 
plainest  necessaries  for  his  table;  and  every  day  brought 
him  intelligence  of  some  new  misfortune. 

1428  Such,  was  the  respective  condition  of  the  par- 
ties:— one  elate  with  victory;  the  other  enfeebled  by 

defeat. 

But  success  did  not  relax  the  efforts  of  the  duke  of  Bed- 
ford. He  resolved  on  an  undertaking,  which,  if  accom- 
plished, would  decidedly  turn  the  balance,  and  prepare  the 
way  for  the  final  conquest  of  France.  This  was,  to  gain 
possession  of  the  city  of  Orleans.  Intending  to  penetrate 
into  the  south  of  France,  it  was  necessary  to  begin  with  this 
place;  now  become  the  most  important  in  the  kingdom.  He 
intrusted  the  command  of  this  enterprise  to  the  earl  of 
Salisbury;  who  had  lately  arrived,  from  England,  with  six- 
thousand  men.  The  lord  of  Gaueour,  a brave  and  expe- 
rienced captain,  was  appointed  governor  of  Orleans,  by 
Charles;  and  the  eyes  of  all  Europe  were  directed  towards 
the  interesting  scene. 

Salisbury  having  been  killed,  by  a cannon  ball,  the  com- 
mand devolved  upon  the  earl  of  Suffolk.  Though  he  had 
several  pieces  of  artillery  in  his  camp,  (and  this  is  the  first 
siege  in  Europe,  in  which  cannon  were  found  to  be  import- 
ant) the  art  of  engineering  was  hitherto  so  imperfect,  that 
he  trusted  rather  to  famine,  than  to  force.  It  was  every 
day  more  closely  invested,  by  the  English.  Great  scarcity 
was  already  felt.  Charles  not  only  looked  upon  the  city, 
as  lost,  but  entertained  a very  dismal  prospect  of  the  general 
state  of  his  affairs.  He  talked  of  retiring  into  Languedoc 
and  Dauphiny;  and  of  defending  himself,  as  long  as  possible, 
in  those  distant  provinces.  But  the  design  was  vehemently 
opposed,  by  Mary  of  Anjou,  his  queen.  His  mistress,  too, 
m 2 


138 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


the  fair  Agnes  Sorrell,  who  (strange  as  it  may  appear) 
lived  in  perfect  amity  with  the  queen,  seconded  all  her 
remonstrances;  and  threatened,  that,  if  he  thus  inglorious* 
ly  threw  away  the  sceptre  of  France,  she  would  seek, 
in  the  court  of  England,  a fortune  more  correspondent  to 
her  wishes.  The  courage,  which  could  not  be  excited  by 
ambition,  was  roused,  in  the  breast  of  Charles,  by  love. 
He  resolved  to  dispute  every  inch  of  ground;  and,  jrather 
than  fly  to  a distant  province,  to  perish  honourably  amongst 
his  friends;  when  relief  was  brought  to  him,  by  a female  of 
a very  different  character;  who  caused  one  of  the  most  singu- 
lar revolutions  that  history  records. 

1429  ^ie  borders  of  Lorraine,  in  a small  village, 

called  Domremi,  there  lived  a country  girl,  ol  twen- 
ty-seven years  of  age,  named  Joan  d’Arc;  who  was  a servant 
in  a small  inn,  had  been  accustomed  to  tend  the  horses  of 
the  guests,  to  ride  them,  without  a saddle,  to  the  watering 
place,  and  to  perform  other  duties,  which,  in  inns  of  a larger 
class,  generally  fall  to  the  share  of  men.  The  genius  of  this 
girl  was  now  excited.  The  present  situation  of  France, 
could  not  be  otherwise  than  interesting,  even  to  persons  of 
the  lowest  rank,  and  became  a frequent  subject  of  conversa- 
tion. Joan  had  been  taught  to  hold  in  detestation  the  English 
name;  and  the  ravages  of  war,  extended  even  to  her  father’s 
cottage,  increased  this  abhorrence.  The  gay  and  generous 
character  of  Charles,  had  rendered  him  the  hero  of  the  female 
sex.  She  was  seized  with  a wild  desire  to  relieve  her  sove- 
reign, from  his  calamitous  distress.  Her  inexperienced 
mind,  employed  day  and  night  upon  this  favourite  object, 
mistook  the  impulses  of  a tender  passion,  for  heavenly  in- 
spiration; and  she  fancied  that  she  was  exhorted,  in  visions 
of  the  night,  to  re-establish  the  throne  of  France.  She  w ent  to 
Vaucouleurs,  informed  the  governor  of  her  inspiration  and 
intention;  and  conjured  him  not  to  neglect  the  voice  of  God, 
of  which  she  was  the  organ,  but  to  second  her  heavenly  re- 
velations. The  governor  was  little  attentive  to  her,  at  first. 
She  renewed  her  solicitation.  She  waited  upon  him  daily; 
and,  at  each  successive  visit,  her  importunity  was  increased. 
He  adopted,  at  length,  the  scheme  of  Joan,  gave  her  some 
attendants,  and  accompanied  her  to  the  French  court,  then 
resident  at  Chinon. 

Not  the  marvellous  alone,  but  the  miraculous,  also,  is  at- 
tached to  the  history  of  this  extraordinary  enterprise.  It  is 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


139 


pretended,  that  Joan,  immediately  on  her  admission,  knew 
the  king,  though  she  had  never  seen  him  before,  and  though 
he  purposely  kept  himself  in  the  crowd  of  courtiers,  and 
had  laid  aside  every  thing  in  his  dress,  which  might  dis- 
tinguish him : that  she  offered  him,  in  the  name  of  the  su 
preme  Creator,  to  raise  the  siege  of  Orleans,  and  conduct 
him  to  Rheims,  to  be  there  crowned;  and,  on  his  expressing 
some  doubts  of  her  mission,  revealed  to  him  a secret,  which 
was  unknown  to  every  person  except  himself,  and  which 
nothing  but  a heavenly  inspiration  could  have  discovered  to 
her;  and  that  she  demanded,  as  the  instrument  of  her  future 
victories,  a particular  sword,  kept  in  the  church  of  St.  Cathe- 
rine, of  Fierbois;  and  which,  though  she  had  never  seen  it, 
she  described,  by  all  its  marks,  and  by  the  place  where  it 
had  long  lain  neglected. 

An  assembly  of  grave  divines  examined  Joan’s  mission, 
and  pronounced  it  to  be  undoubted.  Hope  now  succeeded 
to  despair:  Joan  was  dressed  in  a complete  suit  of  armour, 
mounted  upon  a prancing  charger,  and  shown  to  the  admi- 
ring people.  The  dexterity  with  which  she  reined  her  steed, 
though  acquired  in  her  former  occupation,  as  an  ostler,  was 
regarded  as  an  additional  proof  of  her  heavenly  mission; 
and  she  was  hailed,  by  the  gazing  multitude,  with  enthusi- 
astic joy.  Her  real  vocation  was  even  denied.  She  was  no 
longer  the  servant  of  an  inn.  She  was  converted  into  a 
shepherdess;  and,  to  render  her  still  more  interesting,  ten 
years  were  taken  from  her  age. 

The  illusion  was  now  complete.  It  was  determined  to 
try  her  force  against  the  enemy.  She  was  sent  to  Blois, 
where  a large  convoy  was  preparing,  for  the  supply  of  Or- 
leans; and  an  army  of  ten-thousand  men  had  assembled,  as 
an  escort.  Before  marching,  she  ordered  all  the  soldiers 
to  confess  their  sins,  and  banished  from  the  camp  all  women 
of  bad  fame.  As  she  approached  the  Loire,  a sally 
was  made,  by  the  garrison,  on  the  side  of  Beausse, 


April 

29th. 


(which  was  the  most  strongly  guarded,  by  the  Eng- 
lish) to  prevent  the  besiegers  from  sending  any  detachments 
to  the  other  side,  by  which  the  convoy  was  designed  to 
enter:  the  provisions  were  peaceably  embarked,  in  boats, 
which  the  inhabitants  of  Orleans  had  sent  across,  to  receive 
them:  Joan  covered,  with  her  troops,  the  embarkation: 
Suffolk  did  not  venture  to  attack  her;  and  the  French  gene- 
ral re-conducted  the  escorting  army,  in  safety,  to  Blois. 


140 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


Under  Joan’s  sacred  influence*  the  garrison  now  believed 
themselves  invincible.  Perceiving  so  wonderful  an  alteration, 
both  in  friends  and  foes,  the  count  of  Bunois  (a  natural  son  of 
the  duke  of  Orleans)  consented  that  the  next  convoy,  which 
was  expected  in  a few  days,  should,  in  conformity  with  her 
desire,  enter  by  the  side  of  Beausse.- — The  convoy  approaches; 
the  besiegers  offer  no  obstruction;  the  wagons  and  soldiers  pass, 
without  interruption,  through  the  enemy’s  redoubts:  a dead 
silence  and  astonishment  prevail  throughout  those  troops,  re- 
cently so  animated  by  success,  and  eager  for  the  combat! 

The  Maid  of  Orleans  (by  which  name,  this  extraordinary 
female  is  mostly  known)  called  aloud,  that  the  garrison 
should  remain  no  longer  on  the  defensive.  The  generals 
seconded  her  ardour;  an  attack  was  made  upon  one  redoubt, 
which  proved  successful : all  the  English,  who  defended  the 
intrenchments,  were  slain,  or  taken  prisoners;  and  sir  John 
Talbot  himself,  who  had  drawn  together,  from  the  other  re- 
doubts, some  troops,  for  their  relief,  dared  not  appear  in 
the  open  field. 

The  forts,  at  the  other  side  of  the  river,  were  at  length 
assailed,  by  the  besieged.  In  one  attack,  the  French  were 
repulsed;  the  Maid  was  left  almost  alone,  was  obliged  to 
retreat,  and  join  the  runaways:  but,  displaying  her  sacred 
standard,  and  animating  them  with  her  countenance,  her 
gestures,  and  exhortations,  she  rallied  the  broken  troops, 
and  overpowered  the  English,  in  their  intrenchments.  In 
the  attack  of  another  fort,  she  was  wounded,  in  the  neck, 
with  an  arrow:  she  retreated,  for  a moment,  behind  the 
assailants,  pulled  out  the  arrow,  with  her  own  hands,  had 
the  wound  quickly  dressed,  and  hastily  returned,  to  head 
the  troops,  and  plant  her  victorious  banner  upon  the  Eng- 
lish ramparts. 

In  these  different  actions,  the  enemy  had  lost  six-thousand 
men.  Suffolk  raised  the  siege  of  Orleans,  and  re- 
treated.  Charles  despatched  six-thousand  men,  to  at- 
tack Jergeau,  whither  Suffolk  had  retired,  with  a di- 
vision of  his  army.  The  siege  lasted  ten  days,  and  the 
place  was  obstinately  defended.  Her  wonted  intrepidity 
was  displayed,  by  Joan.  She  descended  into  the  fosse,  in 
leading  the  attack;  and  there  received  a blow,  on  the  head, 
with  a stone,  by  which  she  was  beaten  to  the  ground:  but 
she  soon  recovered,  and  rendered  the  assault  successful. 
Suffolk  was  constrained  to  yield  himself  a prisoner,  to  a 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


141 


Frenchman,  named  Renaud:  but,  before  he  submitted,  he 
asked  his  adversary,  whether  he  was  a knight.  Renaud  re- 
plied, that  he  had  not  yet  attained  that  honour. — 64  Then,  I 
make  you  one,”  replied  Suffolk:  upon  which,  he  gave  him  a 
blow  with  his  sword,  which  dubbed  him  one  of  that  frater- 
nity, and  immediately  surrendered. 

Equally  unsuccessful,  were  the  enemy,  in  other  quarters. 
The  remainder  of  the  English  army,  commanded  by  Fas- 
tolfe,  Scales,  and  Talbot,  thought  of  nothing  but  retreating, 
as  soon  as  possible,  into  a place  of  safety.  The  vanguard 
of  the  French  attacked  their  rear,  at  the  village  of  Patay. 
The  battle  lasted  not  a moment.  The  English  were  dis- 
comfited, and  fled.  The  brave  Fastolfe  himself  showed  the 
example  of  flight,  to  his  troops;  and  the  order  of  the  garter 
was  taken  from  him,  as  a punishment  for  this  instance  of 
cowardice.  Two  thousand  men  were  killed,  in  this  action, 
and  both  Talbot  and  Scales  taken  prisoners. 

The  sir  John  Fastolfe,  mentioned  here,  is  the  same  person 
that  is  represented,  in  the  plays  of  Shakespeare,  as  the 
facetious  Falstaff ; this  misfortune  having,  it  is  thought, 
given  occasion  to  that  inimitable  dramatist,  to  satirize  him, 
as  a braggart. 

The  Maid  had  accomplished  one  part  of  her  promise  to 
the  French  king — the  raising  of  the  siege  of  Orleans.  The 
crowning  of  him,  at  Rheims,  was  the  other;  and  this  she  now 
most  ardently  proposed  to  execute.  Charles  did  not  resist 
her  wishes.  Accompanied  by  this  enthusiastic  female,  he 
set  out  for  Rheims,  at  the  head  of  twelve-thousand  men; 
every  town  opening  its  gates  to  him,  as  he  passed.  The 
ceremony  of  his  coronation  was  there  performed  ? and  he  was 
anointed,  with  the  holy  oil,  brought,  by  a pigeon,  from  heaven, 
(so  write  the  monkish  historians)  on  the  first  establishment 
of  the  French  monarchy,  by  Clovis.  The  Maid  of  Orleans 
stood  by  his  side,  in  complete  armour,  displaying  her  sacred 
banner,  which  had  so  often  terrified  his  enemies;  and  the 
people,  on  viewing  such  a complication  of  wonders,  shouted 
with  tumultuous  joy. 

1430  The-ardour  of  the  English,  for  foreign  conquests, 
was  now  much  abated,  by  reflection.  No  money  could 
be  obtained,  by  the  duke  of  Bedford,  during  his  greatest 
distress;  and  men  enlisted  slowly  under  his  standard,  or 
soon  deserted,  by  reason  of  the  wonderful  accounts  which 
had  reached  England,  of  the  sorcery  and  magic,  and  diabo* 


142 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


lical  power  of  the  Maid  of  Orleans.  The  affairs  of  the  Eng- 
lish, in  France,  declined,  with  an  accelerating  course.  The 
extraordinary  talents  of  the  regent,  were  never  so  severely 
tried.  The  bringing  over  of  young  Henry,  from  London, 
and  having  him  crowned  king  of  France,  at  Paris,  produced 
a very  trifling  effect:  but  he  expected  more  benefit  from  an 
accident,  which  placed  in  his  hands  the  author  of  all  his 
calamities.  The  Maid  of  Orleans  was  taken  prisoner,  when 
making  a sally,  at  Compeigne;  was  tried  for  sorcery  and 
magic,  and  sentenced  to  perpetual  confinement,  and  to  be 
fed,  during  life,  upon  bread  and  water. 

Both  the  French  and  English  might  now  have  been 
convinced,  that  the  opinion  of  divine  influence,  which 
had  so  much  encouraged  the  one,  and  depressed  the  other, 
was  without  foundation.  But  the  barbarous  vengeance  of 
Joan’s  enemies,  was  not  yet  satisfied.  The  first  night  after 
she  was  re-conducted  to  the  dungeon  which  she  had  hitherto 
occupied,  her  guards  took  her  female  dress  oft*  her  bed,  and 
put  her  male  apparel,  which  she  had  relinquished,  in  its 
place.  In  the  morning,  she  earnestly  entreated  that  the 
clothes  worn  by  her  on  the  preceding  day,  might  be  restored : 
but  this  request  having  been  denied,  she  was  compelled  to 
clothe  herself  again  in  the  forbidden  garment.  Thus  attired, 
she  was  caught  by  her  insidious  enemies:  her  imputed  fault 
was  interpreted  to  be  a relapse  into  heresy.  No  recantation 
could  now  suffice:  no  pardon  could  be  granted;  and  she  was 
burned,  in  the  market-place,  at  Rouen ! 

Such  was  the  cruel  death  of  this  heroic  female:  whose 
unrivalled  self-devotion,  has  reared  a monument,  in  the 
hearts  of  Frenchmen,  more  durable  than  graven  brass — 
more  vivid  than  the  historic  page. 

For  the  conduct  of  her  persecutors,  no  excuse  can  be 
found.  Nor  can  Charles  himself  escape  the  severest  repre- 
hension. An  offer  to  exchange,  or  a threat  to  retaliate  upon 
some  of  the  many  prisoners  of  distinction,  whom  he  had,  at 
this  period,  in  his  power,  must  have  insured  the  release,  or, 
at  least,  have  prevented  the  execution  of  that  generous  Maid; 
to  whom,  he  was  chiefly  indebted  for  the  preservation  of  his 
honour,  and  the  safety  of  his  kingdom. 

Far  from  being  advanced,  by  this  execution,  the  affairs 
of  the  English  went  more  and  more  to  decay.  The  great 
abilities  of  the  regent,  were  unable  to  resist  the  strong  in 
clination  which  had  seized  the  French,  to  return  to  their 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


143 


allegiance,  under  their  rightful  sovereign.  But  the  chief 
detriment  sustained  bj  him,  was  in  the  death  of  his  dutchess; 
who  had  hitherto  preserved  some  appearance  of  friendship 
between  him  and  her  brother,  the  duke  of  Burgundy;  and  his 
marriage,  soon  afterwards,  with  Jacqueline  of  Luxembourg, 
was  the  beginning  of  a breach  between  them.  The  duke  of 
Burgundy  had,  for  some  years,  appeared  to  relent,  in  his 
animosity  against  Charles,  and  to  hearken  to  a denial,  made 
by  the  king,  of  the  murder  of  his  father.  The  more  to 
gratify  the  pride  of  that  nobleman,  he  had  banished,  from 
Ins  presence,  all  those  concerned  in  that  assassination;  and 
had  offered  to  make  every  other  atonement  that  could  be 
required;  and  the  duke  determined  to  unite  himself  to  the 
royal  family  of  France,  from  which  his  own  was  descended. 
14 For  this  purpose,  a congress  was  held,  at  Arras, 
° * under  the  mediation  of  the  pope,  and  the  council  of 
Basle.  Nothing,  however,  was  concluded,  on  the  part  of 
England.  The  mediators  having  declared  the  offers  of 
Charles  very  moderate,  the  English  abassadors  withdrew. 

The  duke  sent  a herald  to  England,  to  notify  his  acces- 
sion to  the  treaty  of  Arras,  and  his  departure  from  that  of 
Troye.  The  council  was  much  incensed.  They  received 
the  herald  with  great  coldness;  and  even  assigned  him  a 
lodging  in  the  house  of  a shoemaker,  by  way  of  insult. 
Soon  afterwards,  the  duke  of  Bedford  died,  at  Rouen;  and 
was  succeeded,  in  the  regency,  by  the  duke  of  York.  Isa- 
bella, queen  of  France,  had  died  a short  time  before;  despised 
by  the  English,  and  detested  by  the  French.  The  chief 
actors  in  the  bloody  drama,  had  now  made  their  exit  from 
the  stage;  and  the  curtain,  which  marked  its  close,  was 
about  to  drop.  Paris  was  betrayed  to  the  French  army;  and 
tli us,  after  an  interval  of  fifteen  years,  was  restored  to  the 
domination  of  its  king.  All  the  fields,  in  the  north  of  France, 
which  was  the  seat  of  war,  had  been  laid  waste,  and  ceased 
to  be  furrowed  by  the  plough:  the  cities  were  gradually 
depopulating;  and  both  parties,  weary  of  destruction,  sus- 
pended hostilities,  by  a truce.  Six  years  afterwards,  the 
war  was  renewed,  and  the  nation  aroused  by  the  clash  of 
arms.  Normandy  was  soon  wholly  subdued  by  the  French: 
Guienne,  also,  which  had  remained  united  to  England  since 
the  accession  of  Henry  II.,  was,  after  a period  of  three  cen- 
turies, incorporated  with  the  monarchy  of  France;  and  the 


144 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


English  were  at  length  expelled  from  all  their  conti- 
nental  dominions,  except  Calais. 

No  sooner  had  Charles  found  himself  in  quiet  possession 
of  France,  than  he  devoted  himself  to  the  cares  of  govern- 
ment; and  endeavoured  to  repair  the  ravages  of  war,  by 
promoting  the  arts  of  peace.  Instead  of  the  troops  required 
From  the  vassals  of  the  crown,  he  established  a regular  army, 
and  levied  a tax,  for  its  support.  Besides  this  army,  each 
village  maintained  a free  archer,  who  was  exempted  from 
the  king’s  tax;  and  it  was  in  consequence  of  this  exemption, 
otherwise  peculiar  to  the  nobility,  that  so  great  a number 
of  persons  soon  claimed  the  title  of  gentlemen,  both  by  name 
and  arms. 

These  politic  measures  were  followed  by  the  most  im- 
portant result.  No  longer  summoned  to  the  field,  the  pos- 
sessors of  fiefs  had  afterwards  no  pretence  for  arming  their 
followers,  to  disturb  the  peace  of  the  state:  thus,  the  feudal 
system  rapidly  declined,  in  France;  and  Charles  beheld 
himself  at  the  head  of  one  of  the  largest  and  best  regulated 
kingdoms  of  Europe. 

-^6 ^ But  all  the  wisdom  and  generosity  of  this  mon- 

arch, could  not  secure  to  him  that  happiness,  which 
he  endeavoured  to  procure  for  his  subjects.  His  son  Louis 
revolted,  and  brought  him  to  an  untimely  grave.  Being 
informed  that  this  prince  intended  to  destroy  him,  by  poison, 
he  long  abstained  from  food;  and  literally  died  of  hunger, 
that  his  unnatural  son  might  not  be  guilty  of  parricide,  in 
the  fifty-ninth  year  of  his  age,  and  thirty -ninth  of  a most 
harassing  reign. 

As  soon  as  tranquillity  had  been  restored  to  the  kingdom, 
the  taste  for  literature  revived.  On  the  death  of  Charles 
VII.,  the  rector  of  the  University  of  Paris,  offered  to  attend 
the  funeral  with  twenty-five-thousand  students. 

LOUIS  XI. 

1461—1483. 

If  Louis  be  celebrated  as  a politician,  he  is  equally  de- 
tested, as  a man.  Rarely,  in  modern  times,  does  history 
present  a character  so  odious.  To  find  a parallel,  we  must 
search  amongst  the  very  worst  of  the  Roman  emperors;  and 
place  him  by  the  side  of  Tiberius  and  Nero,  Caligula  and 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


145 


Caracalla;  whose  vices  and  monstrous  cruelties,  he  seems 
to  have  adopted,  as  his  own. 

His  leading  object,  in  politics,  was,  to  aggrandize  the 
monarchy,  by  depressing  the  power  of  the  nobles,  and  unit- 
ing the  great  fiefs  to  the  crown.  To  aid  in  its  accomplish- 
ment, he  dismissed  the  able  and  honest  ministers  of  his  fa- 
ther; and  selected,  from  the  lowest  classes  of  the  people, 
men  of  a disposition  similar  to  his  own — subtle,  deceitful 
and  cruel ; fit  servants  for  so  tyrannical  a master.  The  no- 
j .g-  bles  did  not  continue  passive  spectators  of  this  at- 
tempt. They  entered  into  an  association,  and  flew 
to  arms.  The  king,  also,  assembled  troops,  and  prepared 
to  face  them.  A battle  was  fought,  which  decided  nothing: 
and,  as  Louis  was  disposed  rather  to  negotiate,  than  fight, 
a peace  was  concluded,  on  terms  advantageous  to  the  no- 
bles; but  which  the  perfidious  tyrant  never  intended  to 
fulfil. 

During  this  war,  a custom  prevailed,  of  which  we  find  no 
example,  at  any  earlier  period  of  the  French  history.  The 
prisoners  were  exposed  to  public  sale.  They  were  pur- 
chased with  a view  to  make  a profit  by  their  ransom;  and 
such  of  the  unfortunate  victims  as  were  unable  to  buy  their 
redemption,  were  hanged. 

Philip  the  Good,  duke  of  Burgundy,  was  succeed- 
ed, in  his  extensive  dominions,  by  the  count  of 
Charolois;  now  known  by  the  title  of  Charles  the  Bold. 
Charles  had  conceived  an  antipathy  to  Louis;  and,  what 
more  alarmed  the  king,  he  had  a most  intimate  knowledge 
of  his  disposition.  Both  parties  assembled  forces;  but 
Louis,  having  little  inclination  for  battle,  agreed  to  indem- 
nify the  duke,  for  the  expenses  of  the  campaign,  and  ap- 
pointed an  interview  at  Peronne,  in  Picardy,  then  in  pos- 
session of  Charles.  Louis  went  to  the  place  of  meeting, 
accompanied  by  a few  noblemen  and  domestics,  and  es- 
corted by  only  eighty  archers  of  the  Scotch  guard,  and  sixty 
horse;  having  dismissed  the  rest  of  his  guards;  hoping, 
by  this  show  of  confidence,  to  deceive  the  duke:  and,  to 
forward  the  negotiation,  by  the  distraction  of  his  opponent, 
he  even  commanded  some  of  his  emissaries  to  enter  Liege,  a 
town  under  the  dominion  of  the  duke,  and  persuade  the  in- 
habitants to  revolt.  He  was  disappointed,  however,  in  his 
aim.  When  intelligence  arrived,  at  Peronne,  that  the  peo- 
ple of  Liege  had  broken  out  into  open  rebellion,  at  the  in 


146 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


stigation  of  the  French,  and  had  massacred  the  garrison, 
Charles  ordered  the  king  to  be  confined  in  the  castle; 
where  he  kept  him  shut  up,  for  three  days,  in  a damp  and 
horrid  dungeon.  The  sight  of  the  tower  of  Peronne  made 
him  shudder:  it  was  the  very  place,  in  which  the  unhappy 
Charles  the  Simple  had  been  confined,  by  Herbert,  count 
of  Yermandois.  The  duke  prescribed  such  terms,  as  he 
thought  proper,  to  a prince  whose  liberty  and  life  were  in 
his  power.  Louis  was  constrained  to  march  with  him  to 
Leige,  and  to  aid  in  the  reduction  of  the  very  place,  which 
he  had  incited  to  revolt. 

During  his  whole  life,  he  was  ashamed  of  this  imprudence 
To  the  Parisians,  a people  fond  of  raillery,  it  afforded  mat 
ter  of  triumph.  They  taught  their  jays  and  magpies  to  re 
peat  66  Peronne!  Peronne!”:  but  the  incensed  monarch  or 
dered  all  these  insulting  prattlers  to  be  killed. 

Edward  IV.,  of  England,  was  engaged,  as  an  ally 
of  the  duke  of  Burgundy,  against  France.  When 
every  point  in  dispute  had  been  amicably  adjusted,  an  in- 
terview took  place,  between  the  two  monarchs,  on  a bridge 
over  the  Somme,  at  Pequigni,  near  Amiens;  in  the  centre 
of  which,  a strong  barrier  was  erected,  and  where  such 
other  precautions  were  adopted,  as  were  justified  by  the 
treacherous  spirit  of  the  times.  The  extreme  eagerness  of 
Louis,  to  acquire  the  confidence  and  friendship  of  the  Eng- 
lish, induced  him  to  make  some  imprudent  advances,  which 
afterwards  cost  him  no  small  trouble,  to  evade.  He  told 
Edward,  that  he  should  be  glad  to  be  favoured  with  a visit 
from  him,  at  Paris;  where  he  would  introduce  him  to  the 
beauties  of  that  metropolis:  and,  should  any  offences,  re- 
quiring pardon,  be  the  consequence,  he  would  assign  him 
the  cardinal  de  Bourbon,  for  a confessor;  who  would  not 
fail  to  give  him  absolution.  This  hint  made  a deeper  impres- 
sion, than  Louis  intended.  Lord  Howard,  who  accompa- 
nied him  on  his  return  to  Amiens,  told  him,  in  confidence, 
that,  if  he  were  so  disposed,  it  would  not  be  impossible  to 
persuade  Edward  to  take  a journey  with  him  to  Paris;  where 
they  might  indulge  themselves  in  mirth  and  recreation.  Louis 
pretended,  at  first,  not  to  hear  the  offer;  but,  on  Howard’s 
repeating  it,  he  expressed  his  concern,  that  the  troubled 
state  of  his  kingdom,  would  not  permit  him  to  wait  upon  his 
royal  guest,  and  do  him  the  honours  that  he  intended. — 
66  Edward,”  said  he,  privately,  to  the  historian,  Commines, 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


147 


fi  is  a very  handsome  and  a very  amorous  prince:  some  lady, 
at  Paris,  may  like  him,  as  well  as  he  shall  like  her,  and  may 
invite  him  to  return  thither,  in  another  manner.  I am  glad 
to  have  him,  for  a friend  and  brother,  beyond  the  sea;  but  I 
am  not  fond  of  his  company: — his  predecessors  took  up 
their  residence  rather  long  at  Paris:  it  is  better  that  the  sea 
be  between  us.  ” 

To  this  prince,  every  measure  was  just,  provided  he 
could  accomplish  his  design.  The  duke  of  Savoy  had  ren- 
dered him  some  service,  when  he  was  exciting  an  insur- 
rection against  his  father;  and  Louis,  to  show  his  gratitude, 
engaged  to  bring  about  a marriage  between  him  and  the 
heiress  of  Brittany.  Inventing  some  pretence,  he  invited 
the  duke  of  Brittany  to  his  court;  and,  while  he  detained 
the  father,  he  concerted  a plan  for  carrying  olf  the  daughter, 
which  had  nearly  proved  successful. 

The  subsequent  part  of  this  monarch’s  reign,  was  one 
continued  scene  of  executions,  wars,  and  negotiations. 
Never  were  so  many  traitors  seen,  in  France.  The  artful 
and  hypocritical  disposition  of  Louis,  had  rendered  perfidy 
and  deceit  the  fashionable  vices  of  the  court.  His  minis- 
ters, themselves,  conspired  against  him;  and  the  bishop  of 
Verdun  and  cardinal  Balue,  men  as  wicked  as  himself, 
suffered  those  tortures  that  they  had  invented  for  others. 
They  were  each  confined,  for  eleven  years,  in  an  iron  cage, 
eight  feet  square,  in  the  castle  of  Loche;  a punishment  the 
more  approved,  as  it  was  of  their  own  contriving.  His  own 
brother,  Charles,  was,  by  his  directions,  poisoned.  The 
unsuspecting  prince,  while  courting  the  daughter  of  the  duke 
of  Burgundy,  was  presented  with  a beautiful  peach,  by  his 
almoner,  and,  in  sharing  the  fruit,  with  his  intended  bride, 
he  prepared  his  own  destruction.  The  princess  died  almost 
immediately,  and  the  duke  survived  about  six  months. 
Many  noblemen  lost  their  lives  on  the  scaffold.  The  exe- 
cution of  the  duke  of  Nemones,  was  particularly  barbarous. 
Louis  ordered  his  two  infant  sons  to  be  placed  under  the 
scaffold,  that  they  might  be  sprinkled  with  their  father’s 
blood! 

He  was  naturally  inclined  to  associate  with  persons  of  the 
middle  class.  His  principal  favourite  was  Oliver  le  Dain, 
who  had  been  his  barber;  by  whom  he  was  more  influenced 
than  by  any  courtier  in  his  palace. 

Amidst  all  his  crimes,  and  all  his  blunders,  he  lived  to 


148 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


see  his  kingdom  much  enlarged,  his  subjects  obedient,  and 
his  government  tirm.  He  united  to  his  monarchy,  Maine, 
Barois,  Provence,  and  nearly  all  Artois;  several  cities  of 
Picardy,  Roussilon^  Cerdagne,  and  the  county  of  Bou- 
logne. The  gratification  experienced  by  Louis,  from  the 
success  of  his  projects,  was  greatly  increased  by  the 
birth  of  a son;  who  afterwards  succeeded  to  the  throne, 
under  the  appellation  of  Charles  VIII.  As  he  had  long 
been  extremely  anxious  for  this  event,  he  made  a vow,  in 
case  it  should  occur,  to  offer  up,  at  the  shrine  of  the  Virgin, 
at  Pui,  in  Anjou,  the  image  of  a child,  made  of  solid  silver, 
equal  in  weight  to  his  son,  when  he  should  attain  his  eleventh 
year;  and  he  accordingly  appropriated,  for  that  purpose,  one- 
hundred-and-sixty-thousand  crowns  of  gold. 

1483  Heath,  at  last,  overtook  him;  but  not  before  he  had 
' suffered  more  severe  tortures,  than  any  criminal 
punished  during  his  reign. 

The  picture  drawn  by  Philip  de  Commines,  of  the  last 
scene  of  this  monarch’s  life,  is  deeply  shaded  with  horror. 
He  had  put  to  death  more  than  four-thousand  persons,  by 
different  kinds  of  torture,  and  without  any  form  of  trial. 
He  was  frequently  present,  at  their  execution;  in  beholding 
which,  he  seemed  to  enjoy  a barbarous  triumph..  Many  of 
the  nobility  were,  by  his  order,  confined  in  iron  cages,  and 
carried  about  like  wild  beasts;  while  others  were  loaded 
with  galling  fetters,  with  a ring  of  a particular  construction, 
for  the  feet.  In  consequence  of  these  barbarities,  he  became 
greatly  afraid  of  death;  and,  during  his  illness,  suspicious 
of  every  one  around  him.  After  often  shifting  his  residence, 
and  changing  his  domestics,  he  took  up  his  abode  in  the 
castle  of  Plessis-les-Tours;  which  he  had  encompassed  with 
large  bars  of  iron,  in  the  form  of  a grate,  with  a watch- 
tower,  of  iron,  at  each  corner  of  the  building.  Spikes  of 
iron,  set  as  thick  as  possible,  were  fastened  into  the  wall; 
and  cross-bowmen  were  placed  in  the  ditches,  and  in  the 
watch-towers,  to  shoot  at  any  one  who  dared  to  approach 
the  castle,  before  the  opening  of  the  gate.  Through  the 
day,  the  captains  were  ordered  to  guard  their  several  posts, 
and  there  was  a main  guard  in  the  middle  of  the  court,  as 
in  a town  besieged.  He  paid  his  physician,  whom  he  feared, 
the  sum  of  ten-thousand  crowns  a month;  and  it  is  said  that 
he  drank  the  blood  of  infants,  with  a view  of  softening  his 
scorbutic  humours. 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


X49 


Though  strongly  impressed  with  the  fear  of  death,  Louis 
made  a very  inefficient  preparation  for  his  approaching  end. 
Having  recommended  himself  to  the  prayers  of  Bourdeille, 
archbishop  of  Tours,  that  prelate  thought  the  opportunity 
favourable  for  exciting  a lively  sense  of  his  many  crimes; 
and  he  accordingly  represented  to  him,  that  the  most  ac- 
ceptable offering  he  could  make  to  God,  would  be  a contrite 
heart;  that  gifts  to  the  church  would  not  expiate  sins;  that 
he  had  imprisoned  several  bishops,  and  expelled  others  from 
their  sees,  and  had  been  guilty  of  many  other  acts,  against 
his  subjects. — Enraged  at  the  freedom  of  his  censures,  Louis 
replied,  that  he  had  asked  him  for  prayers,  and  not  for  ad- 
vice; that  such  complaints  were  an  attack  upon  the  sovereign 
authority,  and  bore  a strong  resemblance  to  threats;  that 
Bourdeille  meddled  w ith  too  many  affairs;  and  that  he  defied 
him,  and  all  the  prelates  he  had  mentioned,  to  find  any  flaw 
in  his  conduct.  The  king  then  ordered  the  chancellor  to 
institute  a process  against  the  archbishop  and  the  other  pre- 
lates; and  Bourdeille  was  finally  compelled  to  ask  pardon, 
for  having  discharged  his  duty. 

But,  though  Louis,  as  he  told  the  archbishop,  asked  for 
prayers,  and  not  for  advice,  yet  did  he  wish  for  those  prayers, 
less  for  the  salvation  of  his  soul,  than  the  re-establishment 
of  his  health.  As  he  felt  an  inconvenience  from  the  north- 
wind,  when  it  blew  for  some  days  together,  he  ordered 
general  processions  to  St.  Dennis;  but,  being  ashamed  to  avow 
his  weakness,  he  commanded  the  prayers  that  were  said  on 
those  occasions,  to  be  offered  up,  not  for  a change  of  the 
wind,  but  for  the  health  of  the  king  and  the  dauphin,  and  the 
preservation  of  the  fruits  of  the  earth.  We  are  told  that  his 
chaplain  was  one  day  reciting  an  orison  to  St.  Eutropius, 
and,  when  he  came  to  pray  for  66  the  health  of  the  soul,  and 
of  the  body,”  he  was  interrupted  by  the  king,  who  told  him, 
that  he  ought  not  to  ask  for  so  many  things  at  a time,  and 
requested  him  to  pray  only  for  the  health  of  the  body. — 
There  is  a letter  of  his,  still  extant,  addressed  to  Peter  Ca- 
douet,  a monk,  in  which,  he  says,  “ Master  Peter,  my  friend, 
I request  you,  with  all  possible  earnestness,  to  pray  inces- 
santly to  God,  and  our  lady  of  Salles,  in  my  behalf;  that  it 
may  please  them  to  send  me  a quartan  ague;  for  I am  af- 
flicted with  a malady,  which  my  physicians  tell  me  cannot 
be  cured  without  it;  and,  as  soon  as  I have  it,  I will  let  you 
know.” 


150 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


He  died  in  the  sixty-first  year  of  his  age,  and  the  twenty- 
second  of  his  reign, — a bad  son,  a bad  husband,  a negligent 
father,  the  worst  of  monarchs,  the  worst  of  men. 

In  the  tenth  year  of  this  reign  (1470)  the  first  book,  printed 
in  France,  was  executed,  at  Paris,  by  Ulric  Gering.  The 
art  of  Printing,  which  has  had  so  powerful  an  influence  in 
the  improvement  of  the  human  mind,  and  in  the  reformation 
of  government  and  religion,  known  to  the  Chinese,  in  a rude, 
though  efficient  mode,  upwards  of  a thousand  years  before, 
was  re-discovered,  it  is  generally  agreed,  by  Laurentius 
Koster,  a wealthy  citizen  of  Haerlem,  in  Holland,  about  the 
year  1430.  Laurentius,  it  is  stated,  by  an  early  writer  on 
the  discovery  of  printing,  when  walking,  in  a wood,  picked 
up  a small  bough  of  a tree,  which  had  been  broken  off  by  the 
wind.  He  then  sat  down,  and  amused  himself  by  cutting 
upon  it  some  letters,  andr  wrapped  up,  in  a piece  of  paper, 
the  part  which  he  had  thus  engraved.  He  afterwards  fell 
asleep,  and,  when  he  awoke,  he  perceived  that  the  paper, 
having  been  moistened  by  a shower  of  rain,  had  received  an 
impression  from  the  letters;  which  induced  him  to  pursue 
the  accidental  discovery,  until  he  applied  it  to  the  purpose 
of  printing.  Laurentius,  however,  proceeded  no  further, 
than  the  use  of  wooden  blocks;  on  which,  were  engraved  the 
words,  in  the  manner  of  a stereotype.  To  this  incipient 
mode,  an  improvement  was  made,  by  two  brothers,  named 
Geinsfleiche,  or  Guttumburg;  who  had  been  in  the  employ- 
ment of  Laurentius,  and,  after  his  death,  carried  off  a part 
of  his  printing-blocks,  to  Mentz,  in  Germany;  where  they 
succeeded  in  forming  separate  metal  types,  with  engraved 
faces.  But  the  art  was  yet  far  from  being  completed.  It 
seems  to  have  been  brought  nearly  to  its  present  state  of 
perfection,  by  Peter  Schoetfer,  of  the  latter  city;  who,  in  the 
year  1456,  cast  a fount  of  types,  from  matrices  or  moulds, 
previously  cut  with  the  several  letters.  With  this  invention, 
John  Faustus,  now  his  partner,  but  formerly  his  employer, 
was  so  much  pleased,  that  he  gave  the  ingenious  artist  his 
only  daughter,  in  marriage. 

In  the  year  1460,  Faustus,  (or  Fust,  as  he  is  sometimes 
called)  and  his  partner  Schoeffer,  printed  an  edition  of  the 
Bible.  This  was  a very  expensive  work,  and  was  five  years 
in  the  press.  It  was  this  edition,  as  some  authors  relate, 
of  which  Faustus  carried  a number  of  copies  to  Paris;  where 
he  sold  them,  first  for  six-hundred,  then  for  five-hundred 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


151 


crowns,  each;  which  were  the  prices  commonly  given  to  the 
scribes,  for  very  elegant  copies  of  the  Scriptures.  He  after- 
wards, by  degrees,  reduced  the  price  to  thirty  crowns.  It 
is  said,  that  the  purchasers  were  ignorant  that  these  copies 
were  printed;  and  that  it  was  the  policy  of  Faustus  to  make 
them  believe  they  were  written.  They  were  an  exact  imi- 
tation of  the  best  manuscripts.  As  he  lowered  his  price, 
his  sales  increased,  and  people  were  astonished  at  his  pro- 
ducing copies  as  fast  as  they  were  wanted.  When  he 
reduced  the  price  to  thirty  crowns,  all  Paris  was  amazed; 
both  on  account  of  their  uniformity,  and  the  quantity  pro- 
duced. It  was  believed,  that  he  had  made  a league  with 
the  devil,  and  he  was  accused  of  being  a magician.  The 
catholic  clergy  were  alarmed,  as  they  feared  that  the  Scrip- 
tures would  get  into  the  hands  of  laymen.  His  lodgings 
were  searched,  by  the  officers  of  the  police:  several  Bibles 
were  found;  and  the  red  ink,  with  which  the  illuminators 
had  made  the  great  capitals,  at  the  beginning  of  each  chap- 
ter, was  pronounced  to  be  his  blood.  Faustus  fled,  and 
escaped  the  death  which  awaited  such  hapless  victims  of 
superstition;  and,  from  this  event,  originated  the  story  of 
“ The  Devil  and  Doctor  Faustus.95 

CHARLES  VIII. 

1483—1498. 

Either  from  the  delicacy  of  his  constitution,  or  motives 
of  jealousy  in  his  father,  Charles  had  been  deprived  of  all 
the  advantages  of  education;  so  that,  on  his  accession  to  the 
throne,  although  in  his  fourteenth  year,  he  could  neither 
read  nor  write.  From  this  degrading  state  of  mental  dark- 
ness, however,  he  soon  emerged.  Ashamed  of  his  ignorance, 
the  youthful  monarch  no  sooner  became  his  own  master, 
than  he  applied  himself  to  study,  with  indefatigable  zeal; 
and  engaged  a learned  professor,  to  translate,  for  his  use,  the 
Commentaries  of  Caesar,  and  the  life  of  Charlemagne.' 

Although,  by  the  laws  of  the  realm,  Charles  was  now  of 
age  to  assume  the  reins  of  government,  yet  it  had  not  been 
deemed  prudent  to  intrust  them  to  so  feeble  hands.  Louis, 
therefore,  had,  by  his  will,  vested  the  administration  in  his 
eldest  daughter,  Anne  of  France,  wife  of  Peter  de  Bourbon, 
lord  of  Beajeau;  a woman,  who  seems  to  have  inherited  the 


152 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


intriguing  disposition,  together  with  the  political  talents,  of 

her  father. 

But  there  were  others,  who  supposed  they  had  stronger 
claims  to  the  regency,  and  were  not  deterred  from  standing 
forward  to  assert  them.  The  first  of  these  (after  the  death 
of  the  queen-dowager)  was  Louis,  duke  of  Orleans,  first 
prince  of  the  blood;  who  had  been  compelled,  by  the  late 
king,  to  marry  his  daughter  Jane;  a princess,  whose  person 
was  extremely  disgusting,  and  so  deformed,  that  she  was 
thought  incapable  of  having  offspring. 

The  other  claimant  was  the  duke  of  Bourbon;  who,  though 
of  the  blood  royal,  was  so  far  removed  from  the  throne,  that 
there  was  no  danger  of  his  aspiring  to  ascend  it. 

The  two  competitors  filled  the  council  with  their  crea- 
tures, and  thwarted  all  the  measures  of  the  new  government. 
Perceiving,  however,  that  the  prudence  of  Madame  (by  which 
title,  the  king’s  eldest  daughter  is  known,  in  France)  rose 
superior  to  all  their  maneuvres,  they  united  in  a request, 
that  the  states -general  might  be  convened,  and  the  arrange- 
ment of  the  administration  be  left  solely  to  them.  To  this 
proposal,  Anne  was  at  length  constrained  to  assent;  and  the 
states  were  summoned  to  meet  at  Tours. 

Meanwhile,  she  left  no  measures  untried,  that  were  likely 
to  secure  her  interest.  Persons  of  influence  were  loaded 
with  favours;  the  guilty  ministers  of  her  father,  were  se- 
verely punished.  She  delivered  into  the  hands  of  justice, 
his  two  greatest  favourites,  Oliver  le  Dain  and  John  Doyac. 
Amongst  a variety  of  crimes,  of  which  le  Dain  was  accused, 
the  following  seems  most  to  have  fixed  the  attention  of  the 
judges.— A gentleman  having  been  arrested,  by  the  king’s 
orders,  and  threatened  with  death,  his  wife  applied  to  the 
favourite,  to  intercede  in  his  behalf.  Her  youth,  her  beauty, 
and  her  tears,  made  a strong  impression  upon  Oliver:  but, 
incapable  of  harbouring  any  sentiment  of  generosity,  he 
demanded  the  sacrifice  of  her  virtue,  as  the  price  of  her 
husband’s  safety.  This  infamous  proposal  was  at  first  re- 
jected, by  the  lady,  with  the  disdain  it  was  calculated  to 
excite;  but,  having  obtained  permission  to  visit  her  husband 
in  prison,  she  was  overcome  by  his  tears  and  entreaties,  and 
at  length  consented  to  purchase  his  life  with  the  sacrifice  of 
her  honour.  Fearing,  however,  that,  as  soon  as  she  had 
obtained  the  required  favour,  she  would  absent  herself,  for 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


153 


ever,  from  his  sight,  Oliver  procured  an  order  from  the  king, 
for  the  prisoner’s  death;  and  he  commissioned  one  of  his 
satellites  to  put  the  unfortunate  gentleman  into  a sack,  and 
throw  him  into  the  river.  The  crime  was  discovered,  by 
some  fishermen,  who  drew  up  the  body,  in  their  nets;  and 
the  lady  had  now  the  mortification  to  perceive,  that  the  very 
means  employed  by  her  to  save  her  husband’s  life,  had 
proved  the  cause  of  his  death.  So  long  as  Louis  lived,  she 
concealed  her  grief;  conscious  that  the  publication  of  her 
shame,  would  produce  no  possible  advantage:  but,  after  the 
death  of  that  tyrant,  she  stood  boldly  forward,  demanding 
justice  on  the  assassin  of  her  husband;  and  Le  Dain,  having 
confessed  the  crime,  was  hanged,  together  with  his  accom- 
plice. 

Doyac,  who  had  been  a common  informer,  and  employed, 
by  Louis,  to  calumniate  the  duke  of  Bourbon,  escaped  the 
gallows,  but  to  undergo  a punishment  equally  ignominious, 
and  more  painful.  He  was  sentenced  to  be  whipped,  in 
different  parts  of  the  metropolis;  to  have  one  ear  cutoff,  and 
his  tongue  pierced  with  a red  hot  iron.  He  was  then  con- 
veyed to  Montferrand,  the  place  of  his  birth;  where  he  was 
again  whipped,  lost  his  other  ear,  and  was  afterwards  ba- 
nished from  the  kingdom. 

1484  On  the  fourteenth  of  January,  the  king,  accompa- 
nied by  his  whole  court,  made  his  solemn  entry  into 
Tours;  and,  on  the  following  day,  the  session  was  opened, 
by  a speech  from  William  de  Rochefort,  chancellor  of 
France.  It  was,  at  length,  resolved,  that  the  king  should 
himself  publish  all  letters  patent,  regulations,  and  ordon- 
nances,  after  they  had  been  discussed  by  the  council;  that,  in 
the  king’s  absence,  the  duke  of  Orleans,  as  first  prince  of  the 
blood,  should  preside  in  the  council;  where  every  measure 
should  be  decided  by  a plurality  of  votes:  that,  after  the 
duke  of  Orleans,  and  in  his  absence,  the  duke  of  Bourbon 
should  preside;  and  that  the  lord  of  Beajeau  should  have  the 
third  place,  and  preside  in  the  absence  of  the  dukes  of  Or- 
leans and  Bourbon. 

The  fear  of  offending  the  duke  of  Orleans,  prevented  the 
states  from  making  any  mention,  in  their  resolutions,  of 
Madame.  But  she  had  no  reason  to  complain.  They  were 
so  contrived,  as  to  leave  her  in  possession  of  all  her  power. 
If  she  found  her  measures  thwarted  in  the  council,  she 


154 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


could  soon  remedy  that  inconvenience,  by  sending  the  king, 
of  whose  person  she  had  the  sole  disposal,  to  preside. 

The  next  subject  that  engaged  the  attention  of  the  as- 
sembly, was  the  state  of  the  revenue;  embracing  the  nu- 
merous impositions  practiced  in  its  collection  and  disburse- 
ment. It  appears,  from  their  proceedings,  that  the  French,  at 
this  period,  entertained  some  just  and  rational  ideas  of  civil 
liberty;  and,  that  though  they  had  tamely  acquiesced  in  the 
tyrannical  measures  of  Louis  XI. , they  were  unwilling  that 
his  conduct  should  be  received  as  a precedent:  and,  had  the 
states  general  only  procured  the  privilege  of  assembling  at 
fixed  and  stated  periods,  despotism  could  never  have  reached 
that  alarming  height,  which  it  attained  under  the  succeed- 
ing monarchs  of  the  Capetian  race.  The  deputies  seemed 
unanimous  in  opinion,  that  there  ought  to  be  a general  abo- 
lition of  imposts;  and  passed  a resolution,  that  all  taxes, 
and  other  arbitrary  exactions,  ought  to  be  abolished;  and 
that,  in  future,  agreeable  to  the  national  franchise,  no  tax 
or  impost,  whatever,  should  be  levied,  without  the  consent 
of  the  states  general. — 66  Continue,  august  prince!”  ex- 
claimed John  Masselin,  their  speaker,  addressing  the  king, 
66  to  regulate  your  conduct  by  wholesome  advice:  but,  be- 
ware of  the  arts  of  those  perfidious  counsellors,  by  whom 
the  princes  of  your  blood  are  surrounded.  They  will  tell 
you,  that  a king  is  omnipotent;  that  he  is  never  wrong;  that 
his  will  is  law.  These  are  monsters — objects  of  public  exe- 
cration: exterminate  them,  without  delay,  or  they  will  not 
only  corrupt  your  heart,  but  infect  your  court,  and  the 
whole  body  of  the  nation. — The  people,  in  a monarchy, 
possess  rights,  and  have  a real  property;  since  they  are  free, 
and  not  slaves.” 

The  duke  of  Orleans  did  not  long  remain  submissive  to 
the  decision  of  the  states.  He  formed  cabals,  in  order  to 
obtain  possession  of  the  supreme  authority,  and  levied 
troops.  Anne,  however,  succeeded  in  getting  him  removed. 
He  retired  into  Brittany,  and  prevailed  upon  the  duke  to 
espouse  his  quarrel.  Many  battles  ensued;  in  one  of  which, 
at  the  village  of  Orange,  the  duke  of  Orleans  was  de- 
* feated,  and  taken  prisoner. 

After  the  battle,  the  duke  of  Orleans,  and  his  ally,  the 
prince  of  Orange,  were  conducted  to  Saint  Aubin;  where 
the  French  general,  La  Tremouille,  invited  them,  and  all 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


155 


the  officers  who  had  been  taken  with  them,  to  supper.  Af- 
ter the  meal  was  finished,  he  whispered  something  to  one  of 
his  attendants,  who,  in  a short  time,  introduced  two  friars 
into  the  room;  the  usual  precursors  of  an  execution.  Alarm- 
ed at  the  sight,  the  princes  immediately  rose  from  the  table, 
and  remained  motionless:  but  Tremouille  desired  them  to 
allay  their  fears,  for  that  their  lives  were  safe,  until  the  king 
should  have  decreed  otherwise.  66  But,”  said  he,  “ as  for 
you,  captains,  who  have  been  taken  in  the  act  of  fighting 
against  your  king  and  country,  prepare  yourselves  for  death, 
for  you  must  die  this  instant.”  The  princes  in  vain  inter- 
fered, in  behalf  of  their  partisans:  the  inhuman  general  re- 
mained inexorable,  and  his  sanguinary  orders  were  immedi- 
ately obeyed. 

The  duke  of  Orleans,  after  being,  for  some  time,  trans- 
ferred from  one  prison  to  another,  was  at  length  confined 
in  the  tower  of  Bourges;  where  he  was  treated  with  the 
utmost  severity;  being  shut  up,  every  night,  in  an  iron 
cage. 

Three  years  afterwards,  the  king  himself  went  to  release 
him  from  his  confinement;  and  commissioned  him  to  nego- 
tiate respecting  a marriage  between  Charles  and  the  heiress 
of  Brittany,  (the  only  great  fief  which  now  remained  dis- 
united from  the  crown  of  France)  whose  father  was  now 
dead. 

This  princess,  whose  history  is  deeply  interesting  and 
romantic,  had  many  suitors;  but  the  duke  of  Orleans  had 
met  with  the  best  reception:  for,  though  already  married, 
he  intended  to  disengage  himself  from  his  wife,  by  procur- 
ing a divorce.  To  obtain  his  own  liberty,  however,  and 
preserve  Brittany  from  conquest,  he  induced  the  young 
dutchess  to  espouse  the  king;  though  the  marriage  ceremo- 
nial had  been  performed,  by  proxy,  between  her  and  Maxi- 
milian, duke  of  Austria;  and  Charles  himself  was  contracted 
to  a daughter  of  that  prince;  who  had,  for  seven  years,  been 
educated  at  the  court  of  France,  and  honoured  with  the 
title  of  queen. 

This  princess,  having  been  sent  back  to  Maximilian,  was 
afterwards  contracted  to  a son  of  Ferdinand,  king  of  Spain. 
It  is  said,  that,  in  her  voyage  to  that  country,  she  had  nearly 
perished,  in  a storm;  and,  expecting  the  vessel  every  mo- 
ment to  sink,  she  wrote,  with  a pencil,  the  following  epitaph 
upon  herself. 


156 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


u Ci  git  Margot , la  genie  demoiselle , 

Qu’  eut  deux  marls , el  si  mourut  pucelle .” 

Which  may  be  thus  translated:— 

u Beneath  this  tomb,  the  gentle  Margaret's  laid. 

Who  had  two  husbands,  and  yet  died  a maid.” 

, The  study  of  the  Commentaries  of  Caesar,  and  the 
life  of  Charlemagne,  is  supposed  to  have  incited  the 
young  monarch  to  an  imitation  of  their  warlike  exploits.  He 
conceived  the  project  of  conquering  Naples;  which  he  sup- 
posed belonged  to  him,  as  heir  of  the  house  of  Anjou;  and, 
full  of  gigantic  ideas,  he  collected  an  army,  contrary  to  the 
advice  of  his  council;  traversed  Italy,  without  meeting 
scarcely  any  opposition;  entered  Rome,  as  a conqueror  and 
master;  and  subdued  the  whole  kingdom  of  Naples,  except 
one  town;  all  which  was  accomplished  without  money,  in 
the  midst  of  winter. 

Every  place  in  the  pope’s  dominions,  opened  its  gates  to 
the  French,  except  the  small  town  of  Foscanella,  which  re- 
fused them  admission.  It  was,  in  consequence,  taken  by 
assault,  and  abandoned  to  pillage.  Amongst  the  prisoners 
who  escaped  the  sword,  was  a young  girl,  of  extraordinary 
beauty;  who  was  reserved  for  the  king.  Notwithstanding 
the  horror  and  despair,  which  was  strongly  depicted  in  her 
countenance,  and  the  tears  which  streamed  from  her  eyes, 
Charles  seized  her  in  his  arms,  when,  as  she  struggled  to 
get  loose  from  him,  she  perceived  a picture  of  the  virgin 
hanging  in  the  room: — “ In  the  name  of  her,”  exclaimed 
the  virtuous  maid,  “ who,  by  her  purity,  deserved  the 
honour  of  becoming  mother  to  the  son  of  God,  0,  king, 
spare  my  honour!” — Charles,  casting  his  eyes  upon  the  pic- 
ture, relinquished  his  intention;  and,  being  informed  that 
the  maid  was  betrothed  to  a young  man  of  decent  family, 
who,  with  her  father  and  mother  had  also  escaped  the  fury 
of  the  troops,  and  were  then  prisoners  in  the  town,  he  re- 
leased them  all,  and  gave  the  fair  captive  a marriage  portion, 
of  five-hundred  crowns. 

On  his  return  to  France,  Charles  was  attacked,  at  For- 
nova,  by  a formidable  army  of  the  united  princes  of  Italy, 
supported  by  the  emperor  of  Germany,  and  king  of  Spain; 
which  he  defeated;  and,  proceeding  on  his  march,  reached 
France  triumphant,  and  ruined;  the  glory  of  an  heroic  sol- 
dier being  all  that  he  gained,  with  the  loss  of  so  many  lives; 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


157 


his  trcop3  having  been  shortly  afterwards  expelled  from  all 
his  conquests. 

At  this  time,  a total  revolution  appears  to  have 
taken  place,  in  the  manners  and  disposition  of 
Charles.  Quitting  those  scenes  of  dissipation,  winch  he  had 
long  been  accustomed  to  frequent,  and  foregoing  his  taste 
for  illicit  indulgence,  he  applied  himself  exclusively  to  the 
cares  cf  government;  and,  in  imitation  of  some  of  his  an- 
cestors, administered  justice,  to  his  subjects,  in  person. 

lOt,  in  the  midst  of  these  occupations,  alike  glorious  to 
a monarch,  and  advantageous  to  his  people,  an  accident  oc- 
curred, which  terminated  the  existence  of  this  youthful 
prince.  During  his  stay  in  Italy,  he  had  contracted  a taste  for 
architecture;  and,  on  his  return,  he  gave  orders,  for  the 
erection,  at  Amboise,  the  place  of  his  birth,  of  a more  mag- 
nificent edifice,  than  any  that  had  yet  been  seen  in  France. 
From  a gallery,  in  this  castle,  he  was  engaged  in  observing 
a game  of  tennis,  that  was  played,  in  the  ditch  below;  and, 
desirous  that  the  queen  might  partake  of  the  amusement,  he 
went  to  her  chamber,  and  conducted  her  to  the  gallery;  but, 
in  passing  through  a door,  he  struck  his  head,  with  violence, 
against  the  top,  which  was  very  low.  He  felt,  however,  no 
immediate  bad  consequence  from  the  accident;  but,  after 
remaining  some  time  in  the  gallery,  as  he  was  returning  with 
the  queen,  he  suddenly  fell,  senseless,  to  the  ground. 
Alarmed  at  his  danger,  the  attendants  laid  him  upon  a 
wretched  couch,  which  stood  in  a corner  of  the  gallery: 
thrice,  he  recovered  his  voice,  and  as  suddenly  lost  it;  his 
expressions  were  solely  those  of  devotion;  and,  notwith- 
standing every  effort  of  medicine,  he  expired,  at  eleven 
o’clock,  the  same  night,  in  the  fifteenth  year  of  his  reign, 
and  the  twenty-eighth  of  his  age. 

The  University  of  Paris  contained,  at  this  period,  twenty- 
five  thousand  students,  most  of  them  able  to  bear  arms;  who 
formed  a kind  of  republic,  in  the  midst  of  the  capital. — The 
celebrated  historian,  and  accomplished  statesman,  Philip  de 
Commines,  flourished  in  this  and  the  preceding  reign. 

In  the  year  1492,  Christopher  Columbus,  a native  of 
Genoa,  in  the  employment  of  Spain,  discovered  that  quarter 
of  the  world,  called  America;  and  five  years  afterwards,  in 
1497,  Vasco  de  Gama,  in  the  service  of  Portugal,  doubled 
the  celebrated  promontory,  called  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope; 


158 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


and,  in  the  following  summer,  arrived  at  Calicut,  on  the 
coast  of  Malabar. 

LOUIS  XII. 

1498—1515. 

The  direct  line  of  Valois,  which  had  commenced  one 
hundred-and -seventy  years  ago,  in  the  person  of  Philip  VI. 
was  now  extinct;  and  the  sceptre  passed  to  Louis,  duke  of 
Orleans,  a cousin,  in  the  fourth  degree,  of  the  last  monarch: 
and  grandson  to  that  duke  of  Orleans,  who  was  assassinated, 
at  the  instigation  of  the  duke  of  Burgundy,  in  the  reign  of 
Charles  VI. 

Immediately  after  his  coronation,  Louis  rewarded  the 
zeal  and  fidelity  of  George  d’Amboise,  archbishop  of  Rouen, 
by  raising  him  to  the  dignity  of  prime  minister;  and  never 
did  a favourite  better  deserve  the  confidence  of  his  sove- 
reign. * 

This  prince,  as  we  have  already  seen,  had  been  compelled, 
at  an  early  age,  to  marry  Jane,  the  youngest  daughter  of 
Louis  XL;  and  now,  on  the  oath  of  Louis,  that  he  had  never 
consummated  the  marriage,  pope  Alexander  VI.  was  pre- 
vailed upon  to  grant  him  a divorce.  To  this  sentence,  which 
deprived  her  of  a crown,  Jane  submitted,  with  decent  resig- 
nation; and  only  expressed  a wish  to  be  enabled  to  reward 
her  domestics,  and  relieve  the  poor.  The  king  accordingly 
assigned  her  the  province  of  Berry,  for  her  support;  and, 
retiring  to  a nunnery,  which  she  founded  at  Bourges,  she 
there  took  the  veil,  and  passed  the  remainder  of  a virtuous 
life.  In  the  following  year,  he  was  joined  in  matrimony 
with  Anne,  the  widow  of  the  late  king;  a union  most  desira- 
ble and  important  for  the  realm;  as,  thereby,  the  dutehy  of 
Brittany  was  secured  to  the  crown  of  France. 

1499  Deriving  from  his  mother  a claim  to  the  dutehy  of 
Milan,  and  inheriting  the  title  of  his  predecessors  to 
the  kingdom  of  Naples,  Louis  involved  him  seif  in  a series 

* The  memory  of  this  statesman,  afterwards  raised  to  the  dignity  of 
cardinal,  who  died  in  1510,  is  still  held  in  veneration,  at  Rouen;  to  the 
cathedral  of  which  city,  he  gave  the  famous  bell,  which  bears  his  name. 
It  was  cast  in  1501,  measures  thirty  feet  in  circumference:  the  clapper* 
weighs  seven- hundred-and-ten  pounds,  and  the  bell  itself  forty -thou- 
sand. 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


159 


of  Italian  .wars,  which  continued  almost  during  his  whole 
reign;  and  served  only  to  display  the  martial  courage  of  him 
self,  and  his  commanders,  particularly  the  veteran  Tre- 
mouille,  and  the  young  chevalier  Bayard 5 and  the  treachery 
and  vacillation  of  his  allies.  A detail  of  those  wars  and 
negotiations,  treaties  and  confederacies,  in  which  most  of 
the  princes  of  Europe  were  concerned,  but  which  are  now 
almost  buried  in  oblivion,  would  be  uninteresting,  at  the 
present  day.  It  is  not  easy  to  determine,  which  of  the 
French  monarch’s  allies,  was  the  most  perfidious — Ferdinand 
of  Arragon,  the  emperor  Maximilian,  pope  Julius  VI. , or  the 
mercenary  Swiss.  The  sincerity  of  Louis,  was  but  ill 
adapted,  to  contend  against  their  intrigues.  He  was  duped 
out  of  the  kingdom  of  Naples,  by  the  insidious  Ferdinand ; 
and,  having  three  times  conquered  and  lost  the  Milanese, 
and  joined  in  the  league  of  Cambray,  he  terminated  the  con- 
test, after  a war  of  fifteen  years,  without  acquiring  one  foot 
of  ground. 

Humanity  shudders  at  the  incidents,  which,  even  in  our 
own  days,  are  the  concomitants  of  war.  The  French  having 
taken  Capua,  by  assault,  the  inhabitants  were  exposed  to 
the  fury  of  an  enraged  and  licentious  soldiery;  and  many 
females  of  quality,  preferring  death  to  dishonour,  threw 
themselves  into  the  river;  while  others,  who  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  conquerors,  were  carried  to  Rome,  and  there 
exposed  to  sale.  Caesar  Borgia,  (son  of  the  infamous  pope 
Alexander  VI.)  who,  accompanied  by  the  French  army, 
entered  a tower,  whither  a number  of  these  unhappy  victims 
had  retired  for  safety,  after  examining  them  all,  with 
the  eye  of  a sensualist,  chose  forty  of  the  most  beautiful,  for 
himself 

j In  the  mean  time,  Louis,  after  seeing  all  his  Ita- 

lian conquests  wrested  from  him,  found  his  kingdom 
threatened  by  an  invasion  of  the  English.  Henry  VIII. 
had  sent  a herald  to  Paris,  to  exhort  the  king  not  to  wage  an 
impious  war  against  the  sovereign  pontiff;  and,  when  he  re- 
turned, without  success,  another  was  sent,  to  demand  the 
ancient  patrimonial  provinces  of  the  English  crown — Anjou, 
Guienne,  Normandy,  and  Maine.  This  message  was  under- 
stood to  be  a declaration  of  war.  But  the  artifice  of  Fer- 
dinand, caused  the  presence  of  the  English  forces  to  operate 
wholly  in  favour  of  himself.  He  had  formed  a design  of 
conquering  Navarre;  and  prevailed  upon  Henry  not  to  land 


160 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


his  army  at  Calais,  but  to  send  the  troops  to  Fonterabia; 
under  a pretence,  that,  in  the  latter  situation,  he  could  assist 
him  in  the  conquest  of  Guienne;  and,  though  the  English 
general  refused  to  aid  in  hostilities  against  Navarre,  yet,  his 
being  posted  in  that  quarter,  kept  the  French  army  in  awe; 
and  thus  enabled  the  wily  Spaniard  to  effect  the  conquest  of 
that  kingdom,  and  force  its  sovereign,  John,  together  with 
his  consort,  Catherine,  to  seek  refuge  at  the  court  of  Louis. 
This  spirited  princess  could  not  refrain  from  exclaiming,  to 
her  husband,  “Had  I been  John,  and  you  Catherine,  we 
should  not  have  lost  our  kingdom.” 

The  English  acquired  little  honour,  from  this  ill  conducted 
enterprise;  and  an  action  at  sea,  which  occurred  soon  after- 
wards, produced  nothing  more  decisive.  An  English  fleet, 
of  forty-live  sail,  under  the  command  of  Sir  Thomas  Knevet, 
was  sent  to  insult  the  coasts  of  Brittany;  which,  after  having 
committed  some  depredations,  was  attacked  by  a French 
fleet,  of  thirty-nine  sail,  under  Primauget.  Primauget’s 
ship  took  fire,  and  that  officer,  finding  his  destruction  inevi- 
table, bore  down  upon  the  vessel  of  the  English  admiral, 
and,  grappling  with  her,  resolved  to  make  her  share  his  fate. 
Both  fleets  stood,  for  some  time,  in  suspense,  as  spectators 
of  this  dreadful  engagement;  and  the  men  saw,  with  horror, 
the  flames  which  consumed  both  vessels,  and  heard  the  cries 
of  fury  and  despair  uttered  by  the  miserable  combatants; 
when,  at  last,  the  French  ship  blew  up,  and  destroyed  the 
English,  and  the  rest  of  the  French  fleet  escaped. 

The  king  of  England  now  determined  to  carry  on  the 
war,  in  person.  Twenty -five -thousand  Swiss  having  made 
an  irruption  into  Burgundy,  Henry  landed,  in  the  following 
year,  at  'Calais,  with  fifty-thousand  men,  and  was  soon 
afterwards  joined  by  Maximilian,  with  some  German  and 
Flemish  veterans.  Terouane,  si  tuated  on  the  borders  of  Pic- 
ardy, and  Tournay,  a city  of  Flanders,  soon  yielded  to  the 
English  arms.  But  the  storm  which  was  gathering,  in  this 
quarter,  against  Louis,  passed  harmlessly  away.  Hearing 
of  the  retreat  of  the  Swiss,  from  Burgundy,  and  observing 
the  season  so  far  advanced,  Henry  thought  proper  to  return  to 
England,  and  carried  the  greater  part  of  his  army  with  him. 

Thus,  was  France  delivered  from  as  formidable 
J * danger,  as  any  with  which  she  had  ever  been  threat- 
ened; and,  yielding  to  the  solicitations  of  his  queen,  Louis 
at  length  concluded  a peace  with  the  pope,  Leo  X.  But 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


161 


Anne  did  not  live  to  reap  the  fruits  of  this  accommodation. 
She  expired,  on  the  ninth  of  February,  at  Blois;  regretted  by 
the  nation,  and  deeply  lamented  by  the  king,  by  whom  she 
was  tenderly  beloved. 

Still  grieving  for  the  loss  of  his  queen,  Louis  had  no  in- 
clination to  take  another  partner  of  his  throne:  but  the 
accounts  he  received  of  the  charms  of  Mary,  sister  of  the 
English  monarch,  joined  to  the  desire  of  promoting  the  hap- 
piness of  his  people,  by  restoring  peace,  were  motives  too 
strong  to  be  resisted.  The  articles  were  soon  adjusted, 
between  the  two  monarchs.  Louis  agreed,  that  Ton  may 
should  remain  in  the  hands  of  the  English,  and  that  Henry 
should  receive  one-million  of  crowns;  in  consequence  of 
which  treaty,  Mary  was  sent  over,  with  a splendid  retinue, 
to  France,  and  Louis  met  her  at  Abbeville;  where,  on  the 
tenth  of  October,  they  were  married;  the  king  having  then 
reached  his  fifty-fourth  year,  and  his  bride  being  only 
seventeen. 

1 - The  court  became  a scene  of  festivity  and  pleasure. 

Enchanted  with  the  beauty,  grace,  and  numerous  ac- 
complishments of  his  youthful  consort,  Louis,  for  her  gratifi- 
cation, totally  changed  his  manner  of  living;  which  produced 
so  injurious  an  effect  upon  his  health,  that  he  rapidly 
declined,  and  was  carried  to  the  grave,  on  the  first  of  Janu- 
ary, in  the  seventeenth  year  of  his  reign. 

Louis  was  a monarch  of  most  estimable  disposition.  A 
professed  enemy  to  falsehood  and  equivocation,  he  punished, 
with  severity,  every  deviation  from  truth.  Frank,  affable, 
and  gay,  he  gained  the  affections  of  all  who  knew  him;  while 
his  attention  to  the  welfare  and  happiness  of  Ids  subjects, 
procured  him  the  appellation  of  The  Father  of  his  People. 

He  had,  by  his  consort,  Anne  of  Brittany,  widow  of 
Charles  VIII.,  two  sons,  who  died  in  their  infancy;  and  two 
daughters,  Claude,  married  to  Francis  the  first,  and  lienee, 
who  espoused  the  duke  of  Ferrara. 

The  young  widow  of  the  deceased  monarch,  shortly  after- 
wards married  Charles  Brandon,  duke  of  Suffolk.  The 
duke  was  valiant  in  the  field,  and  handsome  in  his  person. 
At  the  tournament  of  St.  Dennis,  in  honour  of  the  nuptials 
of  Mary  with  the  king  of  France,  lie  was  attacked  by  a strong 
and  gigantic  German,  at  the  instigation  of  the  French,  who 
were  envious  of  his  reputation:  but  he  repulsed  and  defeated 
his  antagonist;  and  so  noble  was  his  conduct,  that  it  won  the 
o 2 


162 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


heart  of  the  youthful  bride,  who,  in  three  months  became  a 
widow,  and  soon  offered  her  hand  and  fortune,  to  her 
favoured  champion.  From  tills  couple,  was  descended,  the 
celebrated  lady  Jane  Gray;  who,  on  the  death  of  Edward 
VI.,  was  induced,  by  her  injudicious  friends,  to  aspire  to 
the  English  crown,  and  in  consequence  lost  her  head. 

FRANCIS  I. 

1515 — -1547. 

With  Louis  XII.,  expired  the  elder  branch  of  the  house 
of  Orleans;  and  the  sceptre  of  France  was  transferred  to 
that  of  Angouleme.  Louis  was  succeeded  by  his  grand 
nephew,  Francis  I.,  now  in  his  twentieth  year;  the  third 
instance,  since  the  accession  of  the  Capetian  race,  of  the 
crown,  in  default  of  heirs  male  of  the  direct  line,  passing  to 
a collateral  branch. 

The  adulation,  received  by  Francis,  had  a fatal  effect 
upon  his  conduct,  by  inflating  his  pride,  and  flattering  his 
ambition.  His  reign  presents  one  continued  scene  of  war. 
Like  his  two  immediate  predecessors,  he  aimed  at  the  con- 
quest of  the  Milanese;  and  that  maintenance  of  a point  of 
honour,  which  sought  to  attain  an  object,  that,  if  acquired, 
could  be  of  no  service  to  himself,  or  benefit  to  his  people, 
brought  him  into  collision  with  almost  every  power  in 
Europe.  But,  to  particularize  the  many  battles  that  were 
fought,  or  the  numerous  treaties  that  were  made,  by  the  con- 
tending parties,  would  be  a task  too  extended  for  the  design 
of  the  present  work.  The  brands  of  war  were  scattered 
over  so  many  places,  at  the  same  time,  and  their  flames 
spread  with  so  much  rapidity  and  fierceness,  that  the  eye 
cannot  embrace  them,  at  a single  viewr,  nor  the  mind  dis- 
tinguish them,  for  observation.  To  condense,  into  a succinct 
and  lucid  form,  the  various  incidents  of  this  busy  reign, 
would  be  no  less  difficult  than  to  reckon  the  waves  of  a 
boundless  ocean,  when  lashed  by  the  fury  of  a raging 
tempest. 

Foreseeing  the  approaching  storm,  Ferdinand  of  Spain 
entered  into  a treaty  with  the  Swiss,  the  duke  of  Milan, 
and  the  pope.  On  the  fifteenth  of  August,  Francis  set  out 
for  Italy;  and,  having  passed  the  Alps,  in  safety,  the  che- 
valier Bayard  surprised  and  totally  defeated  Prospero  Co- 
lonna,  near  Villa  Franca,  with  a thousand  of  the  papal  horse. 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


163 


This  was,  however,  only  a trifling  affair,  in  comparison  with 
the  battle  of  Marignano.  It  began  about  four  in  the  after- 
noon, on  the  thirteenth  of  September,  and  lasted  more  than 
three  hours  after  the  close  of  the  day;  when  the  combat- 
ants were  separated  by  lassitude  and  darkness,  without 
any  abatement  of  hostile  rage.  The  king,  who  passed  the 
night,  completely  armed,  on  the  carriage  of  a cannon,  was 
surprised  to  find  himself,  the  next  morning,  within  a few 
paces  of  the  enemy,  who  renewed  the  charge.  But  Francis 
remained  master  of  the  field;  which  was  strewed  with  the 
bodies  of  ten-thousand  Swiss,  and  nearly  four-thousand  of 
the  French. 

This  defeat  struck  the  duke  of  Milan  with  consternation. 
The  French  pushed  rapidly  forward;  and,  in  a few  days, 
Milan  and  Cremona  were  surrendered  to  the  duke  of  Bour- 
bon. 

In  the  following  year,  Ferdinand  was  succeeded,  on  the 
1519  throne  Spain,  by  the  archduke  Charles;  and,  on 
the  death  of  the  emperor  Maximilian,  the  kings  of 
France  and  Spain  were  candidates  for  the  imperial  crown. 
The  attention  of  all  Europe  was  fixed  upon  this  competition. 
Each  urged  his  pretensions,  with  sanguine  expectation,  and 
no  unreasonable  prospect  of  success.  Charles  considered 
the  imperial  dignity  as  belonging  to  him,  by  right,  from  its 
long  continuance  in  the  Austrian  line.  Francis,  with  equal 
justice,  contended,  that  the  imperial  crown  was  not  here- 
ditary, but  elective.  But  the  electors  did  not  think  it  pru- 
dent to  confer  it  upon  either  of  the  claimants.  To  choose 
either  of  the  contending  monarchs,  would,  they  thought,  be 
giving,  to  the  empire,  a master,  in  place  of  a head;  and,  di- 
recting their  attention  to  Frederick,  duke  of  Saxony,  a 
prince,  who,  from  the  dignity  of  his  virtue,  and  the  splendour 
ef  his  talents,  had  acquired  the  honourable  appellation  of 
64  The  Sage,”  they,,  with  one  accord,  tendered  to  him  the 
imperial  crown.  But  Frederick  magnanimously  rejected 
the  proffered  diadem. — «44  In  times  of  tranquillity,”  said  he, 
44  we  wish  for  an  emperor  who  has  no  power  to  invade  our 
liberties:  times  of  danger  require  one  who  has  the  ability  to 
protect  us.  The  Turkish  armies  are  nflap.mhlino-.  nmW  thn 


flushed  with  conquest.  They  are  preparing  to  rush,  like  a 
torrent,  upon  Germany,  with  a violence,  unprecedented,  in 
former  times.  Some  hand  more  potent  than  mine,  or  that 


conduct  of  a prince,  distinguished 


164 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


of  any  other  German  prince,  must,  at  this  period,  be  in- 
trusted with  the  imperial  sceptre:  recourse,  therefore,  must 
be  had  to  one  of  the  rival  monarchs;  each  of  whom  can  bring 
into  the  field,  troops  sufficient  for  our  defence.  But,  as  the 
king  of  Spain  is  of  German  extraction;  as  he  is  a member 
and  prince  of  the  empire,  by  the  territories  inherited  by  him 
from  his  grandfather,  his  claim  is,  in  my  opinion,  preferable, 
to  that  of  a stranger  to  our  language,  to  our  blood,  and  to 
our  country;  and  therefore  I give  my  vote  to  raise  him  to 
the  imperial  throne. ” 

This  opinion  made  a deep  impression  upon  the  electors. 
On  the  twenty-eighth  of  June,  about  five  months  after  the 
death  of  Maximilian,  the  Spanish  monarch  was,  by  the  una- 
nimous voice  of  the  electoral  college,  raised  to  the  imperial 
throne,  under  the  title  of  Charles  V. 

The  king  of  France  was  most  sensibly  mortified, 
by  this  disappointment;  and  rather  courted  than 
avoided  a cause  of  rupture.  Charles  had,  by  treaty,  agreed 
to  do  justice  to  John  d5 Albert,  the  excluded  sovereign  of 
Navarre;  whom  Francis  was  bound  by  honour,  and  prompt- 
ed by  friendship,  to  restore;  but,  though  frequent  applica- 
tions had  been  made,  on  this  subject,  to  Charles,  he  eluded 
them  all.  upon  frivolous  pretences;  and  Francis  therefore 
thought  himself  authorized  to  assist  the  exiled  family.  Henry 
d ’Albert  had  succeeded  to  the  claims  of  his  father  John; 
and  an  army  was  levied,  in  France,  in  his  name,  under  the 
conduct  of  Andrew  de  Foix,  lord  of  Lesparre;  which  re- 
duced, in  a few  days,  the  whole  kingdom,  without  meeting 
any  obstruction,  except  at  Pampeluna;  nor  would  the  slight 
resistance  made  by  that  fortress,  have  deserved  notice,  if 
Ignatius  Loyala,  a gentleman  of  Biscay,  had  not  been  dan- 
gerously wounded,  in  its  defence.  During  the  slow  pro- 
gress of  a lingering  cure,  Loyala  had  no  other  amusement 
than  what  he  could  find  in  the  lives  of  the  saints.  The 
effect  of  such  reading,  upon  a mind  naturally  enthusiastic, 
was,  to  inspire  him  with  so  great  a desire  of  emulating  the 
glory  of  those  sainted  members  of  the  Roman  church,  as  led 
him  into  the  most  extravagant  adventures,  which  terminated 
in  the  institution  of  the  Jesuits;  the  most  political  and  the 
best  regulated  of  all  the  monastic  orders. 

Navarre,  however,  was  soon  retaken.  Stimulated  by  the 
ardour  of  youth,  and  encouraged  by  the  king  of  France, 
who  was  subject  to  be  dazzled  by  success,  Lesparre  en 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


165 


tered  the  dominions  of  Spain;  and  the  Castilians  being 
thus  roused  from  their  lethargy,  the  French  army  was  at- 
tacked, at  Squires.  Lesparre  himself  wa,s  wounded,  and 
taken  prisoner;  and  Spain  recovered  possession  of  Navarre, 
in  less  time  than  had  been  spent  in  its  conquest  by  the 
French. 

Having  secured  the  alliance  of  the  pope,  and  the  friend- 
ship of  cardinal  Wolsey,  (prime  minister  of  Henry  VIII. 
of  England)  for  whom  he  promised  to  obtain  the  papal  dig- 
nity, on  the  death  of  Leo,  Charles  resolved  to  seize  the  first 
opportunity  of  coming  to  an  open  rupture  with  the  king  of 
France.  The  count  of  Nassau  laid  siege  to  Mousson;  which, 
owing  to  the  cowardice  of  the  governor,  surrendered  with- 
out resistance.  He  next  invested  Mezieres:  but,  happily 
for  France,  the  king,  sensible  of  its  great  importance,  had 
intrusted  its  defence  to  the  chevalier  Bayard;  who  pre- 
ferred death  to  dishonour,  and,  by  his  valour  and  integrity, 
had  obtained  the  appellation  of  66  The  knight  without  fear, 
and  without  reproach.”  By  repeated  exertions  of  valour 
and  able  conduct,  he  contrived  to  protract  the  siege  to  a 
considerable  length,  and  obliged  the  imperialists  to  retire, 
with  considerable  loss. 

The  league  between  the  pope  and  the  emperor,  produced 
a sensible  effect  in  Italy,  and  rendered  Lombardy  the  theatre 
of  war.  Milan  having  been  betrayed  to  Leo,  nearly  the 
whole  dutchy  revolted  from  France.  These  disasters  were 
soon  followed  by  the  loss  of  Genoa,  and  the  defection  of  the 
Venetians;  and  France  had  now  to  oppose  a confederacy  of 
all  the  Italian  princes,  except  the  duke  of  Savoy. 

During  these  transactions,  pope  Adrian,  who  had  suc- 
ceeded Leo  X.,  died,  to  the  great  joy  of  the  Homan  people; 
who  hailed  his  physician  as  66  the  deliverer  of  his  country.” 
He  was  succeeded,  in  the  chair  of  St.  Peter,  by  the  cardi- 
nal de  Medicis;  who  assumed  the  appellation  of  Clement 
VII. 

La  Tremouille  had  a more  formidable  enemy  to  en- 
counter, in  Picardy,  invaded  by  the  united  armies  of  Eng- 
land and  Flanders,  amounting  to  twenty-four  thousand 
men.  The  duke  of  Suffolk,  who  commanded  them,  pene- 
trated as  far  as  the  banks  of  the  Oyse,  within  eleven  leagues 
of  Paris;  filling  that  capital  with  consternation.  But  the 
invaders  were  at  length  compelled  to  retire;  and  Tremouille 


166 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


had  the  glory  of  checking,  with  a handful  of  men,  a numer- 
ous army,  and  of  expelling  them  from  France. 

The  French  monarch  should  have  contented  him- 
’ seif  with  providing  for  the  future  defence  of  his 
kingdom;  but  he  was  yet  bent  upon  the  recovery  of  the 
Milanese.  He  accordingly  crossed  the  Alps,  with  a power- 
ful army,  at  Mount  Cenis,  marched  directly  to  Milan,  of 
which  he  made  an  easy  conquest,  and  then  laid  siege  to  the 
city  of  Pavia.  Its  governor  was  reduced  to  the  greatest  ex- 
tremity; and  the  Germans,  having  received  no  pay  for 
seven  months,  threatened  to  deliver  the  town  to  the  French: 
but  the  duke  of  Bourbon  (who,  in  consequence  of  being  per- 
secuted by  the  queen-dowager  of  France,  had  joined  the 
imperial  standard)  having  arrived,  with  twelve-thousand  of 
their  countrymen,  gave  them  a superiority  over  the  French. 
A sanguinary  engagement  followed.  Francis  continued 
lighting,  until  exhausted  by  fatigue;  and,  scarcely  capable 
of  further  resistance,  he  was  left  almost  alone,  exposed  to 
the  fury  of  some  Spanish  soldiers.  At  that  moment,  came 
up  Pomperant,  a French  gentleman,  who  had  accompanied 
Bourbon,  in  his  flight;  and,  placing  himself  by  the  side  of 
the  monarch,  against  whom  he  had  rebelled,  assisted  in  pro- 
tecting him  from  the  violence  of  the  soldiers;  at  the  same 
time,  conjuring  him  to  surrender  to  Bourbon,  who  was  not 
far  distant:  but  the  name  of  Bourbon  roused  the  indignation 
of  Francis;  who  called  for  Lannoy,  and  gave  to  him  his 
sword.  Francis  was  immediately  conducted  to  the  impe- 
rial camp,  where  his  wounds  were  dressed;  and  whence  he 
despatched  this  laconic  epistle  to  his  mother: — Madame, 
all  is  lost,  except  our  honour.” 

Ten -thousand  men  fell  in  this  fatal  action,  and  the  field 
of  Pavia  was  stained  with  the  best  blood  of  France.  La 
Tremouille  and  Bonnuet  were  amongst  the  slain:  the  king 
of  Navarre,  Montmorenci,  and  many  other  illustrious  war- 
riors, were  made  prisoners,  with  Francis. 

The  feeble  garrison  of  Milan,  on  the  first  news  of  this  de- 
feat, retired,  without  being  pursued ; and,  in  two  weeks  after 
the  battle,  not  a French  soldier  remained  beyond  the  Alps. 

But  this  signal  victory  over  Francis,  produced  one  con- 
sequence, which  the  most  sagacious  politician  could  not  have 
foreseen.  Startled  at  the  fatal  effects  of  that  battle,  Henry 
VIII.  had  become  sensible  of  his  own  danger,  as  well  as 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


167 


that  of  all  Europe,  from  the  loss  of  a proper  counterpoise  to 
the  power  of  Charles;  while  his  minister,  Wolsey,  was  en- 
raged at  the  recollection  of  the  emperor’s  treachery,  in  having 
deluded  him  with  vain  promises  of  the  papal  crown:  the 
English  monarch,  therefore,  seized  the  first  decent  pretence 
for  withdrawing  from  his  alliance. 

Meanwhile,  the  hard  treatment,  received  by  the  French 
king,  in  his  confinement  at  Madrid,  threw  him  into  a fever; 
and  the  emperor,  fearful  of  losing,  by  his  death,  all  the  fruits 
of  his  victory,  condescended  to  pay  him  a consolatory  visit. 
As  he  approached  the  bed,  in  which  Francis  lay,  the  sick 
monarch  said  to  him,  66  You  come,  sir,  to  visit  your  prison- 
er.”'— 44  No,”  replied  Charles,  46 1 come  to  visit  my  brother 
and  my  friend,  who  shall  soon  obtain  his  liberty.” 
j This  flattering  language,  together  with  the  spe- 

cious promises  of  the  emperor,  had  so  good  an  effect 
upon  the  king,  that  he  daily  recovered:  but  the  expectations 
which  he  had  been  led  to  entertain,  vanished,  with  the  re- 
turn of  health;  and  Francis,  in  despair,  resigned  his  king- 
dom to  the  dauphin. 

Charles  became  seriously  alarmed.  Wisely  judging  that 
a larger  ransom  could  be  obtained  for  a living,  than  a dead 
king,  he  consented  to  a treaty;  which  was  accordingly  con- 
cluded, after  Francis  had  secretly  protested,  in  the  presence 
of  his  friends,  against  the  validity  of  a contract,  extorted, 
as  he  said,  by  force;  a species  of  casuistry,  to  which  we  are 
very  far  from  assenting. 

The  most  objectionable  article  in  this  treaty,  was  that  b}> 
which  Francis  engaged  to  cede  Burgundy  to  Charles. 

On  the  eighteenth  of  March,  Francis  was  conducted  to 
Fontarabia,  and  hastened  fo  the  banks  of  the  Bidassoa,  ac- 
compained  by  Lannay,  Alarcon,  and  an  escort  of  fifty  horse; 
while  his  two  sons  appeared  on  the  opposite  shore.  His 
sons  having  been  delivered  to  the  Spanish  officers,  as  hostages 
for  the  performance  of  the  treaty,  the  king  crossed  the  river; 
and,  instantly  mounting  a Turkish  horse,  waved  his  hand 
over  his  head,  and,  exclaiming,  64 1 am  yet  a king!”  galloped, 
at  full  speed,  to  St.  John  de  Luz,  and  thence  to  Bayonne; 
where  he  was  joyfully  received,  by  his  whole  court. 

But  Charles,  by  grasping  at  too  much,  gained  nothing, 
by  the  hard  conditions  imposed  upon  the  imprisoned  king. 
The  states  of  Burgundy  declared  against  the  clause  for  the 
alienation  of  their  province:  the  pope  ana  the  Venetians, 


168 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


the  Swiss,  the  Florentines,  and  the  duke  of  Milan,  entered 
into  a treaty  with  Francis;  by  which,  on  condition  of  his 
renouncing  all  his  pretensions  in  Italy,  except  to  Genoa  and 
the  country  of  Aste,  they  engaged  to  compel  the  emperor  to 
deliver  up  the  two  young  princes,  on  payment  of  an  equitable 
ransom. 

Grown  careless,  by  the  hopes  arising  from  this 
w * contract,  the  king  neglected  to  send  reinforcements 
to  his  Italian  allies;  and  meanwhile  the  duke  of  Bourbon  led 
his  army  to  Rome;  and,  though  he  was  himself  killed,  by  a 
random  shot,  when  planting  a ladder  against  the  walls,  yet 
his  soldiers  took  that  city,  by  assault,  and  exercised  all  those 
barbarities,  which  may  be  expected  from  ferocity  excited  by 
resistance,  and  insolence  inflated  by  success.  Another  error, 
not  less  serious,  in  its  consequences,  was  soon  afterwards 
committed,  by  the  French  monarch.  Prevailed  upon,  by 
the  fatal  councils  of  his  ministers,  he  disgusted  his  admiral, 
Doria;  and  this  able  officer,  having  entered  into  a negotia- 
tion with  the  emperor,  delivered  Naples  from  the  distressing 
effects  of  a blockade,  and  his  native  city,  Genoa,  from  the 
galling  trammels  of  a foreign  yoke. 

1529  Francis  now  entertained  serious  thoughts  of  peace. 

° * The  emperor,  also,  alarmed  at  the  rapid  progress  of 

the  Turkish  arms,  embarrassed  by  the  propagation  of  the 
doctrines  of  Luther,  in  Germany,  and  the  seditious  murmurs 
of  his  subjects  in  Spain,  evinced  an  inclination  to  intermit 
the  tournament  of  war.  A treaty  was  concluded,  at  Cam- 
bray.  Francis  renounced  all  pretensions  to  the  dutchy  of 
Milan,  the  country  of  Aste,  and  the  kingdom  of  Naples; 
took,  for  his  second  wife,  Eleanora,  the  emperor’s  sister,  and 
relinquished  his  rights  to  the  sovereignty  of  Artois,  and  the 
possession  of  Tournay  and  Arras;  and  Charles  accepted  two- 
millions  of  crowns,  as  the  ransom  of  the  French  princes. 

Meanwhile,  the  progress  of  the  Reformation,  in  Germany, 
was  rapid  and  extensive;  and  the  princes  of  the  empire,  who 
professed  the  doctrines  of  Luther,  finding’ that  liberty  of 
conscience  was  denied  them,  had  combined,  in  a league,  for 
their  own  defence,  at  Smalcalde;  and,  because  they  protested 
against  the  votes  passed,  by  the  Catholic  princes,  in  the  im- 
perial diet,  at  Spires,  for  the  defence  of  the  established  faith, 
they  thenceforth  received  the  appellation  of  Protestants. 

^25  Six  years  afterwards,  the  armies  of  the  rival  mon- 
archs  were  again  arrayed  against  each  other;  hos- 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


169 


tilities  were  renewed,  in  Italy,  by  Francis;  bis  kingdom  was 
invaded  by  the  emperor;  and  the  war  continued  until  the 
year  1538,  when  it  was  ended  by  a truce. 

1540  Yet,  notwithstanding  these  bloody  conflicts,  the 
rival  monarchs  seemed  capable  of  mutual  friendship. 
They  appeared  to  extend  towards  each  other  urbanity  and 
confidence.  The  citizens  of  Ghent  having  revolted,  and 
his  immediate  presence  being  required,  to  reduce  them, 
Charles  asked  and  obtained  a passage  to  the  Netherlands, 
through  France.  On  the  first  of  January,  he  made  his  public 
entry  into  Paris.  But  the  profusion  of  honours  heaped 
upon  him,  was  insufficient  to  remove  his  apprehensions; 
and,  conscious  that  he  merited  no  kindness  from  his  rival, 
he  began  to  blame  his  own  imprudence,  in  having  put  him- 
self into  his  power.  Impressed  with  these  ideas,  he  was 
greatly  alarmed  at  a joke  passed  upon  him  by  the  duke  of 
Orleans;  who  jumped  up  behind  him  upon  his  horse,  and, 
throwing  his  arms  around  his  waist,  exclaimed — u Your 
imperial  majesty  is  now  my  prisoner.” — At  another  time, 
Francis,  who  was  candour  itself,  told  him,  that  the  dutchess 
of  Estampes  (mistress  of  the  king)  was  of  opinion,  that  he 
should  not  suffer  him  to  leave  Paris,  until  he  had  revoked 
the  treaty  of  Madrid.  66  If  the  advice  be  good,”  replied  the 
emperor,  greatly  disconcerted,  66  you  ought  to  follow  it;”  at 
the  same  time,  he  purposely  let  fall  a superb  diamond,  which 
the  dutchess  picked  up,  and  which  he  begged  her  to  accept: 
she  complied  with  his  request;  and,  in  the  sequel,  repaid  his 
attention,  by  betraying  the  interests  of  her  sovereign.  The 
king’s  fool  having  placed  the  emperor’s  name  on  his  list,  for 
having  put  himself  in  the  power  of  his  rival,  observed,  that, 
if  the  king  suffered  him  to  escape,  he  would  efface  the  em- 
peror’s name,  and  insert  his  master’s,  in  its  place. 

The  emperor  had  promised  to  Francis  the  investi- 
ture of  Milan,  but,  having  obtained  the  desired  favour, 
had  failed  in  its  performance.  The  king  was  greatly  enraged, 
when  he  found  himself  the  dupe  of  his  unprincipled  rival; 
and  his  indignation  was  augmented,  in  proportion  as  he  per- 
ceived that  the  credulous  simplicity  with  which  he  had 
trusted  him,  exposed  him  to  the  ridicule  of  Europe.  He 
suspected  the  fidelity  of  his  own  servants;  and,  though  he 
had  resolved  upon  a renewal  of  the  war,  he  dismissed  his 
best  general,  Montmorenci. 

The  flames  of  war,  which  had  been  suppressed,  but  not 


170 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


extinguished,  again  arose,  with  unabated  fury.  The  king 
of  England  withdrew  from  his  alliance  with  France,  and 
joined  the  emperor;  notwithstanding  the  ill  treatment  he 
had  formerly  experienced  from  Charles.  He  pretended 
that  Francis  had  engaged  to  support  the  Scots  against  the 
power  of  England,  and  he  had  also  received  information  of 
some  railleries,  indulged  in,  by  the  French  king,  with  regard 
to  his  wives. 

1544  The  imperial  forces  met  with  a severe  defeat,  at 
Cerizoles;  where  ten-thousand  of  their  number  were 

slain,  and  four-thousand  taken  prisoners.  Henry  soon  after- 
wards landed,  at  Calais,  with  thirty-thousand  men,  and  was 
joined  by  fourteen-thousand,  under  the  admiral  of  Flanders. 
Charles,  having  taken  the  field  with  sixty-thousand,  made 
himself  master  of  Luxembourg,  Commercy,  and  St.  Dizier; 
and,  proceeding  on  his  march,  advanced  as  far  as  Epernay 
and  Chateau -Thierry.  The  Parisians  hastened  to  quit  the 
capital,  and  the  roads  to  Rouen  and  Orleans  were  covered 
with  wagons,  loaded  with  their  wives  and  children,  and  ef- 
fects. But  the  dauphin,  by  a forced  march,  contrived  to 
throw  himself  between  the  army  of  Charles  and  Paris;  the 
emperor  turned  to  the  left,  and  marched  to  Soissons;  and, 
finding  his  schemes  for  subduing  France  likely  to  prove 
abortive,  proposed  terms  of  accommodation  to  the  king;  and 
a treaty  was  accordingly  concluded,  at  Crespy,  in  the  Laon- 
nois. 

1545  The  war  between  England  and  France  was  not 
distinguished,  this  year,  by  any  memorable  event. 

The  French  fleet,  consisting  of  two-hundred  sail,  and  the 
English  of  one-hundred,  cannonaded  each  other,  off  the  Isle 
of  Wight,  for  two  days;  but,  except  the  sinking  of  one  vessel 
of  the  English,  the  damage,  on  both  sides,  was  of  little 
moment.  It  was,  indeed,  scarcely  possible,  that  a fleet 
could,  at  that  time,  obtain  any  considerable  advantage,  over 
an  enemy,  without  boarding.  The  cannon  were  generally 
so  ill  served,  that,  it  is  mentioned,  by  a French  writer,  as 
something  extraordinary,  ; 6 that  each  of  these  numerous 
fleets,  during  an  engagement  which  lasted  three  hours,  fired 
fully  three-hundred  shot;”  whereas,  a single  vessel  could 
now,  without  difficulty,  discharge  three  times  the  number. 
t -4r  Thus,  have  we  given  an  imperfect  sketch  of  the 
‘ * ever-changing  operations  of  this  eventful  reign.  Our 
pen  is  soon  to  be  relieved  from  the  fatiguing  task  One  of 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE 


171 


the  c.iief  actors,  in  the  murderous  drama,  was  at  length 
summoned  before  that  throne,  where  kings,  as  well  as  their 
subjects,  the  oppressor  and  the  oppressed,  must  tremble, 
and  await  their  doom.  The  last  hours  of  the  life  of  Fran- 
cis, were  embittered  with  domestic  contention,  arising  from 
the  rivalry  of  the  dutchess  d’Estampes,  and  Diana  of  Poic- 
tiers,  mistress  of  the  dauphin.  A slow  fever  continually 
preyed  upon  him:  he  wandered  from  one  palace  to  another, 
in  a state  of  languor  and  depression;  and  at  length  expired, 
at  Rambouillet,  in  the  fifty-third  year  of  his  age,  and  the 
thirty-third  of  his  reign, 

Francis  was  an  ardent  patron  of  the  sciences;  and  es- 
tablished salaries  for  professors  of  Hebrew,  Greek,  and 
Latin,  surgery  and  physic.  A mathematical  professor  was 
also  instituted,  during  his  reign,  and  the  study  of  natural 
philosophy  began  to  be  cultivated,  with  diligence  and  success. 

From  the  year  1528,  to  1534,  perpetual  summer  pre- 
vailed in  France.  During  four  years,  not  two  days  of  frost 
were  experienced:  nature,  exhausted  by  a continued  heat, 
incessantly  produced  blossoms,  but  had  not  strength  to  ma- 
ture the  fruit.  A scarcity  of  provisions  was  the  conse- 
quence of  this  phenomenon;  and  the  harvest  was  scarcely 
sufficient  to  supply  seed  for  the  following  year.  A most 
dreadful  famine  prevailed;  and  the  use  of  unwholesome 
food,  produced  a disorder,  which  carried  off  one  fourth  of 
the  inhabitants. 

HENRY  II. 

1547—1559. 

The  throne  was  now  occupied  by  Henry  II. ; the  only 
surviving  son  of  the  late  king,  by  Claude,  daughter  of  Louis 
XII.,  now  in  his  twenty-eighth  year. 

Notwithstanding  the  dying  injunctions  of  his  father, 
Henry  hastened  to  recall  the  constable  Montmorenci;  whom 
he  re-established  in  the  possession  of  all  his  honours,  and 
placed  at  the  head  of  the  administration.  Five  different 
parties  at  this  time  existed  in  France.  The  first  was  headed 
by  the  king’s  mistress,  Diana  of  Poictiers,  created  dutchess 
of  Yalentinois;  the  second,  by  Montmorenci;  the  third,  by 
the  house  of  Guise;  the  fourth,  by  the  mareschal  St.  Andre; 
the  fifth,  by  the  que6n,  Catherine  of  Medicis,  a daughter  of 
the  duke  of  Florence.  * 


172 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


Though  war  is  the  most  afflicting  scourge  of  nations,  it 
seems  to  be  the  most  fascinating  amusement  of  kings.  During 
this  reign,  the  sword  was  continually  stained  with  blood.  It 
presents  a distressing  narrative  of  unnecessary  battles;  a 
horrid  spectacle  of  carnage  and  desolation.  The  able  de- 
fence of  Metz,  by  the  duke  of  Guise,  the  most  celebrated 
warrior  of  the  French  armies,  caused  terrible  destruction 
amongst  the  besiegers,  headed  by  the  emperor  himself 
Finding  it  impossible  to  contend  longer  with  the  rigour  of  the 
season,  and  with  enemies  whom  he  could  neither  overpower  by 
force,  nor  subdue  by  art,  while,  at  the  same  time,  a contagious 
distemper  raged  amongst  his  troops,  Charles  yielded  to  the  so 
licitations  of  his  general;  who  conjured  him  to  save  the  re- 
mains of  his  army,  by  a timely  retreat.  66  Fortune,”  said  he, 
“ I now  perceive,  resembles  other  females,  and  chooses  to  con- 
fer her  favours  upon  young  men;  while  she  forsakes  those 
who  are  advanced  in  years.” 

On  the  twenty-sixth  of  October,  Charles  gave  orders  to 
raise  the  siege,  after  having  continued  fifty-six  days  before 
the  town;  during  which  time,  he  lost  thirty-six-thousand 
men.  The  duke  of  Guise  took  measures  to  molest  the  im- 
perialists, on  their  march.  Such  was  the  confusion,  in 
which  they  made  their  retreat,  that  the  French  might  have 
annoyed  them  in  the  most  cruel  manner.  But,  when  they 
sallied  out,  a spectacle  presented  itself  to  their  view,  which 
extinguished,  at  once,  all  hostile  rage,  and  melted  them  into 
tenderness  and  compassion.  The  imperial  camp  was  filled 
with  the  sick  and  wounded,  the  dying  and  the  dead.  In 
all  the  different  roads,  by  which  the  army  retired,  numbers 
were  found,  who,  having  made  an  effort  to  escape,  beyond 
their  strength,  were  left,  when  they  could  go  no  further,  to 
perish,  without  assistance.  This,  they  received  from  their 
enemies;  to  whom,  they  were  indebted  for  all  the  kind 
offices,  that  could  not  be  performed  by  their  friends.  The 
duke  of  Guise  ordered  proper  refreshments,  for  such  as  were 
dying  of  hunger;  appointed  surgeons  to  attend  the  sick  and 
wounded;  and,  as  soon  as  they  recovered,  he  sent  them 
home,  under  an  escort  of  soldiers,  with  money  to  bear  Die 
charges  of  the  road. 

1 The  emperor  at  length  grew  weary  of  the  burthen 

° * of  government,  and  the  toils  of  war.  He  surprised 

the  world,  by  resigning  Spain  to  his  son,  Philip  II.;  and, 
in  about  a year  afterwards,  having  resolved  to  withdraw. 


history  of  France. 


173 


entirely,  from  the  troubles  of  the  world,  that  he  might  spend 
the  remainder  of  Ills  days  in  solitude,  he  relinquished  the 
imperial  dignity,  to  his  brother  Ferdinand,  king  of  the  Ro- 
mans. 

Henry  VIII.  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  Edward  VI.; 
who,  after  a reign  of  only  a few  years,  made  room  for  his 
half-sister,  Mary;  at  the  period  to  which  our  history  has  ar- 
rived, on  the  throne  of  England.  Mary  was  married  to 
Philip  II. ; a monarch  equally  bigoted  in  favour  of  the  Ro- 
man Catholic  doctrine,  and  as  gloomy  and  tyrannical  as  the 
1 558  fiueen  herself.  In  the  fifth  year  of  her  reign,  Calais,  the 
only  place  remaining  to  the  English,  on  the  continent, 
was  taken,  by  the  duke  of  Guise,  after  a siege  of  only  eight 
days;  having  been  in  their  possession  ever  since  its  capture 
by  Edward  III.,  a period  of  two-hundred-and-ten  years. 
This  event  sunk  deep  into  the  mind  of  Mary:  she  had  long 
been  in  a delicate  state  of  health;  a variety  of  reflections 
now  tormented  her,  which  threw  her  into  a fever;  of  which, 
she  died,  in  the' sixth  year  of  her  reign.  She  was  succeeded 
by  her  half-sister,  Elizabeth,  (daughter  of  Henry  VIII.  and 
Anna  Boleyn)  a princess  of  the  protestant  religion;  who, 
though  herself  not  wholly  free  from  the  charge  of  ty  ranny, 
yet  displayed  talents  for  governing,  and  a love  of  her  coun- 
try, which  rendered  her  the  most  illustrious  sovereign  of 
that  age. 

In  the  following  year,  plenipotentiaries  from  the  belli- 
gerent parties,  assembled,  at  Chateau-Cambresis,  and  there 
agreed  upon  the  terms  of  peace.  The  treaty  between  France 
and  England  contained  no  article  of  importance,  except  that 
which  regarded  Calais;  which  wras  allowed  to  remain  with 
the  French.  The  principal  articles  between  Henry  and 
Philip,  were,  that  the  two  monarchs  should  labour,  in  con- 
cert, to  procure  the  convocation  of  a general  council,  in 
order  to  check  the  progress  of  heresy,  and  restore  unity  and 
concord  to  the  Christian  Church;  and  that  all  the  conquests, 
made  on  this  side  of  the  Alps,  since  the  commencement  of 
the  war,  in  1551,  should  be  mutually  restored;  and,  thus, 
by  this  famous  treaty,  peace  was  re-established  in  Europe, 
after  nearly  thirty  years’  continuance  of  war;  and  all  causes 
of  discord  seemed  to  be  wholly  removed. 

Soon  after  its  conclusion,  the  duke  of  Savoy  repaired, 
with  a numerous  retinue,  to  Paris,  to  celebrate  his  marriage 
with  Henry’s  sister.  The  duke  of  Alva  was  sent,  to  the 

p 2 


174 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


same  capital,  at  the  head  of  a splendid  embassy,  to  espouse 
the  king’s  daughter,  Elizabeth,  in  the  name  of  his  mas- 
ter, the  king  of  Spain:  the  ceremony  was  performed,  on 
the  twenty-sixth  of  June,  at  the  church  of  Notre  Dame. 
Great  rejoicings  and  festivities  took  place,  on  this"  oc- 
casion, and  a grand  tournament  was  held,  in  the  Rue  Saint 
Antoine;  at  which,  the  palm  of  victory  was  borne  away  by 
the  king.  But,  as  he  was  returning  from  the  circle,  he 
perceived  two  lances,  at  one  end  of  the  lists,  which  were 
unbroken:  one  of  these  he  took  himself,  the  other  he  sent  to 
Montgomery,  the  captain  of  his  guards;  a man  eminently 
skilled  in  every  martial  exercise;  inviting  him  to  break  if, 
with  his  sovereign,  in  honour  of  the  ladies.  Montgomery 
hesitated,  for  some  time,  and  even  twice  refused  to  obey 
the  summons:  Mary,  queen  of  Scotland,  and  the  queen  of 
France,  too,  who  were  present,  sent,  to  entreat  the  king  to 
content  himself  with  the  glory  he  had  already  acquired,  and 
to  run  no  further  risk; — Henry,  however,  persisted;  and,  at 
length,  sent  a positive  order  to  Montgomery,  to  prepare  for 
the  assault.  He  obeyed:  the  attack  was  violent;  their  lances 
were  shivered  into  pieces:  but  the  king’s  vizor  having  been 
deranged,  by  the  shock,  one  of  the  broken  pieces  of  his  ad- 
versary’s lance,  pierced  his  forehead,  just  above  the  left 
eye,  and  he  fell  senseless  upon  the  ground.  He  was  im- 
mediately conveyed  to  his  palace;  and  the  surgeons,  after 
examining  the  wound,  declared  it,  though  dangerous,  not 
incurable:  but  an  abscess  having  unexpectedly  formed  in  the 
head,  their  utmost  skill  proved  ineffectual;  and,  on  the 
tenth  of  July,  Henry  expired,  in  the  forty -first  year  of  his 
age,  and  the  thirteenth  of  his  reign. 

The  character  of  this  monarch,  may  be  traced  in  a few 
words.  He  was  more  of  the  warrior,  than  the  statesman; 
active  and  intrepid  in  the  field,  but  weak  and  irresolute  in 
the  council:  the  best  quality,  in  his  disposition,  was  his 
constancy  in  friendship;  the  worst,  his  cruelty  in  religion. 

During  the  reign  of  Henry,  the  doctrine  of  the  reformers 
began  to  spread,  with  great  celerity,  in  France;  and  the 
persecuting  spirit  of  that  monarch,  instead  of  nipping  it  in 
the  bud,  served  only  to  expand  its  blossoms,  and  give  ma- 
turity to  that  fruit,  which  it  was  designed  to  blast.  The 
French  reformers,  known  by  the  appellation  of  the  Hu- 
gonots,  were  chiefly  of  the  sect  of  Calvin;  and  their  prin- 
ciples, of  course,  further  removed  from  the  established 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


175 


0 


church,  than  those  of  the  more  moderate  followers  of  Lu- 
ther, and  more  likely  to  raise  disgust,  in  the  minds  of  the 
Roman  Catholics;  who  were  firmly  resolved  to  adhere  to 
the  ancient  religion  of  their  country,  with  all  its  myste- 
rious ceremonies  and  creeds.  An  inquisition  was  establish- 
ed, in  France,  by  pope  Paul  IV.;  several  Calvinists  were 
committed  to  the  flames,  and  many  sought  refuge  amongst 
the  Swiss. 

John  Calvin,  the  celebrated  reformer,  whose  doctrines  are 
followed  by  the  church  of  Scotland,  and  the  majority  of 
presbyterians  in  other  countries,  was  born  at  Noyou,  in  Pi- 
cardy, in  the  year  1509,  and  died  in  1564,  in  his  fifty-fifth 
year.  He  studied  grammar  under  Corderius;  who,  on  ac- 
count of  his  truly  classic  J 1 ' 1 1 e ranked 


rius,  the  author  of  the  well  known  primary  class-book,  the 
Colloquies  of  Cordery,  was  born  in  Normandy,  in  the  year 
1479,  and  died  at  Paris,  in  1564,  in  the  eighty-fifth  year  of 
his  age. 

Some  estimate  may  be  formed  of  the  number  of  inhabi- 
tants, in  Paris,  during  this  reign,  by  the  circumstance,  that 
they  could  muster  forty -thousand  persons  capable  of  bearing 
arms. 


The  short  reign  of  Francis  II.,  son  of  the  deceased 
monarch,  who  had  just  entered  his  sixteenth  year,  exhibits 
nothing  but  conspiracy  and  intrigue.  His  education  had 
been  neglected,  not  from  inattention  or  design,  but  through 
necessity,  owing  to  the  weakness  of  his  body.  Without  de- 
sires, without  vices,  without  virtues,  he  was  destined  to  be- 
come a pliant  instrument  in  the  hands  of  any  faction,  that 
should  take  possession  of  him.  This  was  effectually  ac- 
complished, by  the  house  of  Guise.  Having  caused  Francis 
to  espouse  Mary  Stewart,  queen  of  Scotland,  their  niece, 
this  family,  descended  from  a younger  branch  of  the  house 
Lorraine,  assumed  the  whole  authority  to  themselves.  Of 
the  Guises,  who  acted  so  conspicuous  a part,  during  this 
reign,  there  were  six  brothers — the  duke  of  Guise,  the  car- 
dinal of  Lorraine,  the  duke  of  Aumale,  the  marquis  of 
Elbeuf,  the  cardinal  of  Guise,  and  the  Grand  Prior:  but 


amongst  the  purest  writers 


Corde- 


FRANC1S  II 
1559— 1560. 


176 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


only  the  first  two  performed  a leading  part,  in  the  great 
theatre  of  state. 

Anthony,  king  of  Navarre,  and  his  brother,  Louis  de 
Bourbon,  prince  of  Coiide,  nearly  related  to  the  crown,  as- 
sisted by  the  admiral  Coligni,  and  others  of  the  Hugonot 
party,1  endeavoured  to  seize  the  administration:  but,  the 
conspirators  having  been  detected,  three  of  the  chiefs  were 
executed,  in  the  presence  of  the  queen-mother  and  the 
ladies  of  the  court.  Nearly  twelve-hundred  were  hanged, 
drowned,  or  beheaded.  Villemongi,  when  brought  to  the 
scaffold,  dipped  his  hands  into  the  blood  of  his  associates; 
and,  raising  his  eyes  towards  heaven*  exclaimed,  66  Heavenly 
Father,  behold  the  blood  of  thy  children,  which  thou  wilt 
revenge.” 

The  prince  of  Conde,  who  was  chosen  leader  of  the  Hu- 
gonotsf  was  condemned  to  lose  his  head;  but  the  sudden 
death  of  the  king,  suspended  the  execution,  and  saved  his 
life.  The  king?s  disorder  was  an  abscess  in  the  head; 
which  put  an  end  to  his  existence,  in  the  eighteenth  year  of 
his  age,  after  a reign  of  only  seventeen  months. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  year,  several  reddish  spots  having 
appeared  on  his  face,  the  king  was  advised  to  set  out  for 
Blois,  and  there  prepare  himself,  by  moderate  exercise,  for 
the  use  of  aromatic  baths.  Apprized  of  his  intention,  some 
evil  designing  persons  had  spread  a report,  that  the  king 
was  afflicted  with  the  leprosy;  4 and  that  the  only  remedy 
that  could  be  of  service,  was  to  bathe  in  the  blood  of  infants. 
A number  of  emissaries  had  visited  all  the  villages  within 
twenty  leagues  of  Blois;  and,  while  some,  without  entering 
into  any  explanation,  took  an  exact  list  of  the  most  healthy 
and  beautiful  children,  others,  who  followed  them,  at  some 
distance,  revealed  the  secret,  and  promised  the  parents,  for 
a trifling  reward,  to  procure  the  erasure  of  the  children's 
names,  from  the  fatal  list.  By  this  abominable  maneuvre, 
the  report,  absurd  as  it  was,  obtained  such  credit,  amongst 
the  common  people,  that,  instead  of  the  acclamations  of  jov, 
with  which  they  were  accustomed  to  hail  their  sovereigns, 
alarm,  sorrow,  and  desolation,  marked  the  progress  of  the 
court.  Most  of  the  towns  and  villages  were  abandoned; 
while  those  persons  who  had  courage  to  remain  in  their 
houses,  had  strongly  barricadoed  their  doors,  and  did  not 
even  dare  to  look  through  the  windows.  Troops  of  peasants, 
carrying  off  their  children,  were  descried  in  the  fields;  and, 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


1 77 


when  pursued,  they  fell  upon  their  knees,  and  implored 
mercy  for  their  infants.  At  this  unusual  spectacle,  the  king 
burst  into  tears;  and  insisted,  with  so  much  eagerness,  on 
knowing  the  cause,  that  his  attendants  were  under  the  ne- 
cessity of  telling  him  the  truth.  His  amazement  may  easily 
be  imagined.  He  endeavoured  to  dispel  the  fears  of  the 
wretched  fugitives,  and  ordered  the  strictest  search  to  be 
made,  to  discover  the  authors  of  so  infamous  a report. 

CHARLES  IX. 

Massacre  of  St.  Bartholomews 
1560— 1574. 

The  crown  now  devolved  upon  Charles  IX.,  next  brother 
to  the  monarch  deceased;  at  this  time,  only  in  his  eleventh 
year.  Incapacitated,  by  his  extreme  youth,  from  holding 
the  reins  of  government  himself,  his  mother,  Catherine  of 
Medicis,  at  first  assumed  the  authority;  but  was  shortly 
afterwards  compelled  to  relinquish  a considerable  portion 
of  the  sovereign  power,  to  the  king  of  Navarre;  who  was 
created  lieutenant  general  of  France. 

Though  little  disturbed  by  hostilities  with  any  foreign 
state,  France  was  convulsed,  during  nearly  the  whole  of  this 
reign,  by  civil  war.  The  catholics  and  protestants  arrayed 
themselves  against  each  other,  with  deadly  force.  But  the 
sacred  duty  of  an  historian,  compels  us  to  say,  that  the  latter 
are  not  entirely  innocent  of  the  charge  of  having  been  the  first 
aggressors,  in  the  present  reign.  They  drove  the  catholic 
priests  from  the  altars,  and  despoiled  their  churches.  Be 
this  imputation,  however,  true  or  false,  the  wily  Catherine 
practised  against  the  reformers,  her  accustomed  dissimula- 
tion; and  even  carried  her  hypocrisy  so  far,  as  seemingly  to 
favour  their  party.  The  prince  of  Conde,  who,  before  the 
death  of  Francis,  had  been  sentenced  to  the  scaffold,  was 
now  permitted  to  repair  to  the  court,  at  Fontainbleau;  where 
he  was  justified  from  the  charges,  for  which  he  had  been 
condemned;  and  it  was  ordained,  that  all  fugitives  and  exiles 
should  be  allowed  to  return  to  France;  that  no  one  should 
be  suffered  to  molest  them,  so  long  as  they  lived  without 
giving  offence;  and  that  the  partisans  of  the  new  religion, 
might  assemble,  unarmed,  without  the  walls  of  the  several 
towns,  in  order  to  perform  divine  worship,  under  the  im- 


178 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


mediate  inspection  of  a magistrate.  But,  a number  of  pro- 
testants  having  convened  within  the  small  town  of  Vassi,  in 
Champagne,  through  which  the  duke  of  Guise  happened,  at 
that  time,  to  pass,  provoking  language  was  used,  towards 
some  officers,  sent  by  him  to  remonstrate  on  this  infringe- 
ment of  the  royal  license,  and  a riot  ensued,  in  which  nearly 
two-hundred  of  the  reformers  were  slain. 

The  news  of  the  massacre  of  Vassi,  as  it  was  called,  by 
the  Hugopots,  was  soon  spread  over  Europe;  and  the  party 
endeavoured,  by  means  of  this  event,  to  render  the  duke  of 
Guise  an  object  of  general  execration. 

The  prince  of  Conde,  with  the  admiral  Coligni  and  his 
friends,  repaired  to  Orleans;  where  they  were  soon  after- 
wards joined  by  all  the  Hugonots  of  Paris.  Tha-t  city  be- 
came a second  capital  in  the  kingdom.  The  prince  of 
Conde  was  chosen  head  of  the  association,  and  couriers 
were  despatched,  to  the  different  provinces,  (which  contained 
twenty -five-hundred  Hugonot  churches)  to  request  a speedy 
supply  of  men  and  money.  The  inhabitants  of  Beaujenci, 
Blois,  Tours,  Augers,  and  Mans;  Poictiers,  Bourges,  and 
Angouleme;  immediately  flew  to  arms,  and  massacred  or 
expelled  the  clergy,  and  all  the  catholics  who  made  any 
resistance;  and,  as  there  were  many  rich  abbeys  and  monas- 
teries, in  these  towns,  the  Hugonots  found  means,  not  only 
to  maintain  the  garrisons,  but  to  pour  considerable  sums 
into  the  military  chest  of  the  prince  of  Conde. 

In  Guienne,  the  royal  forces  were  commanded  by  Blaise 
de  Montluc.  In  Dauphine,  where  the  revolution  was  almost 
general,  the  reformers  were  headed  by  the  Baron  des  Andrets. 
His  very  menaces  terrified  the  city  of  Grenoble;  which  ejected 
its  catholic  partisans,  and  destroyed  the  images  and  altars 
of  the  churches.  Ail  the  other  towns  of  Dauphine,  except 
Embrun  and  Araingon,  followed  this  example.  His  name, 
already  terrible,  became,  every  day,  more  dreadful,  by  his 
actions.  When  Monbrizon  was  taken,  and  the  castle  capi- 
tulated, he  drenched  the  streets  with  blood;  and  precipitated, 
or  made  several  of  the  soldiers,  together  with  the  governor, 
throw  themselves  from  the  summit  of  a tower.  One  of  the 
unfortunate  captives,  whom  he  had  ordered  to  leap  from  the 
top  of  a precipice,  ran  twice  to  the  brink,  and  then  stopped. 
Des  Andrets  reproved  him,  for  his  slowness,  and  asked  him 
why  he  should  take  two  runs,  when  his  companions  had 
taken  only  one: — “ Brave,  as  you  are,  baron,5’  replied  the 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


179 


soldier,  “I’ll  give  you  ten  runs  to  it;’9— an  unexpected 
answer,  which  extorted  a smile  from  the  baron,  and  saved 
the  man’s  life. 

In  Champagne  and  Picardy,  the  catholics  prevailed,  and 
the  protestants  were  massacred,  without  mercy;  in  return 
for  the  cruelties  exercised,  by  them,  in  other  parts,  and  for 
the  plunder  and  profanation  of  the  churches.  In  Touraine, 
the  peasants  committed  every  species  of  depredation;  and, 
after  tearing  out  the  eyes  of  a protestant  minister,  they 
burned  him,  at  a slow  fire. 

Such,  are  the  effects  of  sectarian  presumption,  and  an 
overweening  confidence  of  opinion.  Attached  to  our  pre- 
conceptions, averse  to  a rational  examination- — without  judg- 
ment, without  reason,  without  reflection- — we  condemn  the 
religious  tenets  of  others,  whose  minds  are  formed  by  the 
same  creator,  as  our  own. 

The  taking  of  Rouen,  by  the  royalists,  wmch  was  retarded, 
for  some  time,  by  a reinforcement  of  English  troops,  and  is 
computed  to  have  been  attended  with  the  destruction  of  four- 
thousand  men,  on  each  side,  was  followed  by  the  death  of 
the  king  of  Navarre;  who  was  mortally  wounded,  in  the 
siege:  nor  was  there  a smaller  waste  of  human  lives  in  the 
battle  of  Dreaux;  where  the  constable  Montmorenci,  and  the 
prince  of  Conde,  fell  into  the  hands  of  their  respective  ene- 
mies, after  being  both  wounded  and  unhorsed.  On  the  cap- 
tivity of  the  latter,  the  command  of  the  protestant  army, 
was  conferred  upon  the  admiral  Coligni,  (a  nephew  of  Mont- 
morenci,) an  officer  alike  distinguished  for  his  ability  and 
valour,  and  entire  devotion  to  his  party. 

On  the  eighth  of  February,  the  city  of  Orleans  was 
besieged,  by  the  duke  of  Guise;  and  on  the  nineteenth, 
he  was  mortally  wounded,  by  ail  assassin.  He  survived  the 
stroke  only  six  days;  during  which  interval,  he  displayed 
the  most  dignified  composure,  and  manly  fortitude;  which 
justified  the  representation  given  of  his  death,  by  the  catholic 
authors,  as  worthy  of  a Christian  hero. 

Both  parties  had  been  unfortunate,  in  the  loss  of  officers, 
and  both  seemed  equally  inclined  to  return  the  sword  with- 
in its  scabbard.  After  various  conferences,  a treaty  was,  at 
length,  concluded.  A more  limited  rule  of  toleration,  was 
now  accepted,  by  the  Hugonots.  In  all  fiefs,  held  directly 
of  the  crown,  the  barons  and  nobility  were  allowed  the  pub- 
lic exercise  of  the  protestant  religion,  for  themselves  and 


180 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


their  vassals.  In  other  fiefs,  the  proprietors,  when  they  did 
not  reside  in  towns  or  villages,  were  allowed  the  same  liberty, 
in  their  own  houses.  In  the  city  of  Paris,  and  in  all  other 
places,  not  specified,  they  were  prohibited  to  meet  publicly; 
but  private  liberty  of  conscience  was  universally  allowed  them 

Nothing  now  remained,  for  the  perfect  restoration  of 
tranquillity,  but  the  expulsion  of  the  English,  from  Havre 
de  Grace.  Elizabeth  testified  her  chagrin  at  the  treaty  of 
Orleans,  (which  had  been  concluded,  with  the  Ilugonots, 
without  consulting  her,  or  any  other  of  their  allies)  by  de- 
manding, from  France,  the  restitution  of  Calais;. and  de- 
claring, that  she  was  entitled  to  keep  possession  of  Havre, 
until  that  important  article  of  the  general  peace,  was  ful- 
filled. The  French  court  replied,  that  a clause,  in  the  same 
treaty,  obliged  her  to  commit  no  act  of  hostility  against 
France,  during  the  space  of  eight  years;  at  the  expiration  of 
which  time,  the  restitution  of  Calais,  or  a pecuniary  redemp 
tion,  had  been,  on  that  condition,  promised. 

On  the  fifteenth  of  July,  the  French  troops  encamped 
before  Havre.  The  English  garrison,  commanded  by  the 
earl  of  Warwick,  consisting  of  about  seven-thousand  men,  had 
been  already  thinned,  by  a pestilential  distemper:  the  heat 
of  the  weather,  and  a scarcity  of  provisions,  increased  the 
fatal  effects  of  this  dreadful  disorder,  and  reduced  Warwick 
to  the  necessity  of  capitulating,  on  the  honourable  condition 
of  retiring,  with  the  remainder  of  his  forces;  and,  in  the 
ensuing  year,  all  matters  of  difference,  between  the  two 
countries,  were  settled,  by  a treaty  of  peace. 

1565  ^o  con^en^ons  are  so  difficult  to  appease,  as  dis- 
putes concerning  religion.  It  is  a subject,  upon  which 
there  can  be  no  compromise.  The  king  was  soon  tormented 
with  the  alternate  complaints  of  catholics  and  protestants. 
The  people  of  Burgundy  objected  to  the  extension  of  the 
late  edict  of  toleration,  to  their  province.  The  protestants 
preferred  a general  complaint  of  the  violent  opposition,  made, 
in  various  parts,  to  its  establishment;  and  of  the  injurious 
treatment  which  they  experienced.  These  oppositions  were 
not  disagreeable,  to  the  court.  They  were  used  as  a pretext, 
for  rendering  the  late  edict  palatable  to  the  catholics;  and, 
for  this  purpose,  another  was  passed,  in  which  the  liberty  of 
the  protestants  was  considerably  retrenched.  This  act  of 
injustice,  united  with  the  fear  of  the  Hugonots,  on 
3 ' * account  of  a recent  interview,  at  Bayonne,  between 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


181 


the  Spanish  and  French  courts,  and  others,  occasioned  by 
the  inarch  of  the  duke  of  Alva,  along  the  frontiers  of  France, 
into  the  Low  Countries,  accelerated  the  renewal  of  civil 
war.  The  security  of  the  administration,  at  this  period,  is 
the  more  remarkable,  as  the  frequent  warnings  received  by 
them,  ought  to  have  put  them  upon  their  guard.  It  is  said, 
that  Catherine,  whose  observations  were  directed  chiefly 
towards  Coligni’s  motion,  was  the  more  deceived,  by  the 
report  of  one  of  her  spies,  with  respect  to  the  manner  in 
which  she  saw  him  employed,  at  Chatillon.  Clad  in  a 
homely  frock,  with  a pruning  knife  in  his  hand,  the  admiral 
had  mounted  one  of  the  trees  in  his  orchard;  and  appeared 
like  the  peaceful  inhabitant  of  the  rural  shades,  rather  than 
one  who  was  then  preparing  the  thunderbolts  of  war. 

The  queen  of  England  deemed  this  a tit  opportunity  for 
discovering  her  inclination  to  support  the  Hugonots;  and 
renewed  her  old  demand  of  the  restitution  of  Calais.  But, 
to  this  unexpected  request,  France  refused  to  accede.  A 
bold  attempt  of  the  protestant  chiefs,  to  seize  the  person  of 
the  king,  was  viewed  as  a signal,  by  the  leaders  of  both 
parties,  to  collect  their  forces.  The  first  conflict  occurred 
in  the  plains  of  St.  Dennis;  in  which,  the  old  constable, 
Montmorenci,  received  a wound,  which  caused  his  death. 
Disdaining  to  surrender,  when  required,  he  dashed  the 
pommel  of  his  sword,  which  was  broken,  in  his  adversary’s 
face,  and  knocked  out  several  of  his  teeth:  when  a pistol- 
shot,  from  behind,  gave  him  a mortal  wound,  and  he  fell, 
bleeding,  to  the  ground.  At  no  great  distance,  and  almost 
at  the  same  instant,  the  prince  of  Conde’s  horse  being 
wounded,  and  falling  with  him,  it  was  with  difficulty  that 
he  could  extricate  himself  from  the  surrounding  danger. 
The  battle  was  ended  by  the  approach  of  night.  The  intre- 
pid bravery  of  the  prince  of  Conde’s  troops,  was  witnessed 
by  the  Ottoman  ambassador,  who  had  taken  his  station  in  an 
adjoining  tower;  and  his  surprise  was  testified,  by  exclaim- 
ing, 46  If  my  master  had  only  two-thousand  of  these  white 
scarfs,  at  the  head  of  his  several  armies,  the  world  could  not 
stand  against  him  for  two  years.” 

On  the  death  of  Montmorenci,  the  duke  of  Anjou,  a 
brother  of  the  king,  was  appointed  lieutenant  general  of 
France. 

The  banners  of  civil  discord,  which  had  been  in- 
cased by  the  peace  of  Longjumeau,  were,  soon  after- 
0 


1568. 


182 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


wards,  unfurled.  Scarcely  three  months  had  elapsed,  before 
a disposition  was  evinced,  by  the  court,  to  renew  the  war 
Catherine,  who  delighted  in  fraud  and  dissimulation,  laid  a 
plan  for  seizing  the  persons  of  the  prince  of  Conde  and  the 
admiral,  who  had  retired  to  their  respective  estates;  but, 
having  been  warned  of  their  danger,  they  effected  their 
escape,  and  fled  towards  Rochelle. 

By  the  speedy  arrival  of  the  queen  of  Navarre,  with  her 
infant  son,  Henry,  the  foundation  of  a firmer  association 
seemed  to  be  laid,  and  the  protestants  prepared  for  war, 
with  more  than  usual  confidence. 

The  duke  of  Anjou’s  army  now  consisted  of  twenty  Thou- 
sand foot  and  four-thousand  horse.  The  protestants,  besides 
the  troops  in  garrison,  mustered,  in  the  field,  eighteen-thou- 
sand infantry,  and  three-thousand  horse.  Though  in  the 
midst  of  winter,  they  took  the  field,  and  many  brave  men 
were  killed,  in  the  sieges  of  Sancerre  and  St.  Michael. 

At  the  opening  of  the  campaign,  in  the  ensuing 
0 * spring,  conspicuous  valour  was  displayed,  on  both 

sides,  in  the  battle  of  Jarnac.  The  gallant  Ilugonot  gene- 
ral, La  Noue,  having  been  taken  prisoner,  his  division  was 
rallied,  by  D’Andelot;  who,  with  undaunted  courage,  ad- 
vanced to  the  charge.  This  daring  commander,  after  this 
short  exhortation  to  his  men— 46  Act  now,  as  I do”— was 
seen,  immediately,  on  closing  with  the  enemy,  to  lay  hold 
of  the  beaver  of  the  duke  of  Monsalez’s  helmet,  with  one 
hand,  and,  with  the  other,  to  discharge  a pistol  in  his  face; 
which  laid  him  dead  upon  the  ground.  It  was  then,  that  a 
courier  was  despatched,  to  the  prince  of  Conde,  with  intel- 
ligence of  the  situation  of  the  van.  That  gallant  commander 
took  the  brave  but  unfortunate  resolution  of  hastening  to  the 
assistance  of  the  admiral,  with  a choice  body  of  cavalry, 
while  the  remainder  of  his  army  were  directed  to  follow  him, 
with  all  possible  expedition.  Just  as  he  was  giving  orders 
to  dash  forward,  the  duke  of  Rochefoucaud’s  horse  reared, 
and  fractured  the  bone  of  the  prince’s  leg.  Superior  to 
pain,  with  an  undaunted  countenance — 66  Remember,”  said 
he,  66  nobility  of  France,  that  Louis  of  Bourbon  this  day 
verifies  his  motto,  and  esteems  the  condition  in  which  he  now 
goes  to  encounter  the  enemy,  for  the  sake  of  his  religion,  of 
you,  and  of  France,  a circumstance  not  unfavourable  to  his 
renown.” — After  a charge,  that  exceeded  any  of  his  former 
■instances  of  resolution,  he  was  attacked,  in  flank,  by  the 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


183 


duke  of  Anjou’s  main  body,  by  which,  his  slender  battalion 
was  overwhelmed;  when,  thrown  from  his  horse,  which  was 
wounded,  and  able  only  to  raise  himself  upon  one  knee, 
from  the  ground,  he  surrendered  himself  to  B’Argens;  to 
whom,  he  delivered  his  sword.  Being  placed  under  a tree, 
Montesquieu,  captain  of  the  duke  of  Anjou’s  Swiss  guard, 
coming  up,  shot  him,  through  the  head,  with  a pistol:  a brutal 
assassination,  perpetrated,  it  is  supposed,  by  the  instigation 
of  the  duke  himself. 

The  moment  the  queen  of  Navarre  was  informed  of  the 
event  of  the  battle  of  Jarnac,  she  hastened  to  Cognac,  with 
the  two  Henrys — her  son,  the  prince  of  Bearn,  and  the  young 
Conde — the  one  fifteen  years  of  age,  the  other  sixteen. — 
The  prince  of  Bearn,  (afterwards  Henry  IV.)  was  now 
declared  the  head  of  the  protestant  party:  but,  on  account 
of  his  youth,  the  command  was  given  to  Coligni. 

Depressed,  by  the  loss  of  their  intrepid  chief,  at  Jarnac, 
the  hopes  of  the  protestants  were  revived,  by  the  junction 
of  the  duke  of  Deux-Ponts,  with  a formidable  army  of  Ger- 
man auxiliaries;  amounting  to  thirteen-thousand. 

The  battle  of  Montcoulour  was  the  only  conflict,  of  four 
regular  engagements,  that  had  now  been  fought,  in  which 
the  protestants  were  completely  vanquished.  The  catholic 
army  amounted  to  twenty -seven-thousand;  the  protestant, 
to  eighteen-thousand:  Coligni  was  severely  wounded,  and 
nearly  six-thousand  of  his  soldiers  perished  in  the  held.  A 
body  of  catholic  Germans,  led  by  the  Rhingrave,  endeavoured 
to  break  his  line  of  foot.  Coligni  led  on  some  French  ar- 
quebuseers,  to  the  charge.  The  Rhingrave  turned,  and  faced 
him,  and  both  of  them  advancing  nearly  thirty  paces  before 
their  troops,  discharged,  at  the  same  instant,  their  pistols, 
at  each  other.  The  admiral’s  jaw  was  shattered,  by  his 
opponent’s  shot,  while  his  own  laid  his  adversary  dead  upon 
the  ground;  and  he  concealed  the  hurt  he  had  received,  until, 
being  almost  suffocated,  by  the  blood,  he  allowed  himself  to 
be  led  off  the  field. 

It  was  the  peculiar  character  of  Coligni,  that  he  acquired 
fresh  fortitude,  in  adversity;  and,  that  his  spirit  became 
emboldened,  in  proportion  to  the  increase  of  danger.  He 
immediately  sent  off  despatches  to  England,  to  the  protes- 
tant princes  in  Germany,  and  to  the  Swiss  cantons;  which, 
whiie  they  lessened  the  amount  of  his  disasters,  implied  a 
want  of  assistance.  It  was  resolved  to  garrison  the  three 


184 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


towns  of  Niort,  Angouleme,  and  St.  Jean  D’Angeli;  and  the 
chief  commanders  conducted  the  two  young  princes,  with 
the  remains  of  the  army,  to  Rochelle. 

Disappointed  of  fixing  his  head -quarters  in  Gui- 
enne,  the  admiral  undertook,  in  the  midst  of  winter, 
to  traverse  the  kingdom,  by  a march  from  Montauban, 
through  Languedoc,  to  the  mouth  of  the  Rhone;  and  thence, 
along  the  course  of  that  river,  and  of  the  Saone,  to  the  en- 
trance of  Burgundy,  and  the  head  of  the  Seine;  and,  after 
pillaging  fifty,  and  burning  a hundred  places,  in  a march  of 
more  than  four-hundred  French  leagues,  his  army  being 
reduced  to  fewer  than  five-thousand  men,  yet,  with  this 
small  number  he  forced  peace  to  themselves  and  to  France, 
by  defeating  the  marshal  De  Cosse,  at  Arnay-le-Duc,  with 
thirteen-thousand. 

A treaty  was  concluded,  in  the  month  of  August,  at  St. 
Germain-en-Laye.  Besides  the  public  exercise  of  the  pro- 
testant  religion,  unconfined  by  any  restrictions,  protestants 
were  to  be  admitted  into  all  employments  and  dignities, 
civil  and  military;  and,  in  any  process  before  the  provincial 
parliament,  were  to  have  the  privilege  of  excepting,  without 
adducing  any  reason,  against  a certain  number  of  judges,  in 
each  chamber.  But,  what  distinguished  this  treaty  of  paci- 
fication, from  every  preceding  edict,  was,  the  assignment  of 
the  four  cities  of  Rochelle,  Cognac,  Montauban,  and  La 
C ha  rite,  to  the  protestants;  to  be  held  by  them,  for  the  se- 
curity and  fulfilment  of  the  articles  of  peace,  for  two  years. 

Such,  was  the  conclusion  of  the  third  civil  war,  and  the 
nature  of  the  peace,  obtained  by  the  firmness  of  the  pro- 
testants. 

Soon  after  this  peace,  Charles  united  himself  to  the  arch- 
dutchess  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  the  emperor,  Maximilian 
the  Second;  an  amiable  princess;  who,  with  the  hand, 
obtained  not  the  heart  of  her  royal  consort;  which  had  been 
long  engaged  to  his  mistress,  the  beautiful  Mary  Touchet. 

The  advantageous  terms  of  the  treaty,  and  the  solemn 
professions,  made  by  Catherine  and  Charles,  to  maintain  it 
inviolably,  did  not  soon  throw  the  protestant  leaders  off  their 
guard.  Experience  had  taught  them  circumspection.  They 
did  not  hope  to  find  security,  where  they  had  so  often  found 
deceit.  They  kept  together,  in  a body,  and  chose  Rochelle 
as  a place  of  retreat.  But  the  king  appeared  peculiarly 
anxious  to  remove  every  subject  of  discontent.  When  intef- 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


185 


hgence  was  received,  that  the  protestants,  at  Rouen,  had 
been  attacked,  by  the  soldiers,  as  they  were  going  to  their 
place  of  worship,  Charles  directly  proceeded  to  punish  the 
offenders. 

Of  the  sincerity  of  these  proceedings,  the  proposed  mar- 
riage of  the  king’s  sister,  with  Henry,  the  young  king  of 
Navarre,  (formerly  the  prince  of  Bearn)  and  the  alleged 
design  of  entering  into  a war  with  Spain,  seemed  to  afford 
plain  and  incontestable  evidence.  Charles,  indeed,  express- 
ly declared,  that  he  bestowed  his  sister  to  the  king  of 
Navarre,  with  a view  to  render  the  connubial  tie  a general 
bond,  to  attach  all  the  Hugonots  to  his  government,  and  to 
banish  their  apprehensions  concerning  the  immutability  of 
his  pacific  edicts. 

In  consequence  of  this  nuptial  contract,  and  a connexion 
which  Charles  affected  to  enter  into  with  England,  when 
queen  Elizabeth  was  solicited  to  marry  the  duke  of  Anjou, 
the  intercourse  of  the  protestant  chiefs  with  the  court,  became 
more  unreserved  and  frequent.  The  admiral,  the  king  always 
addressed  by  the  endearing  appellation  of  father:  and  one- 
hundred-thousand  livres  were  assigned  him,  as  an  indemnifi- 
cation for  his  losses,  in  the  late  war*.— “ Have  I not,”  said 
Charles,  “ acted  my  part  well?” — <{  Admirably,”  replied 
his  mother: 64  you  have  begun,  but  you  must  continue,  to  the 
end.  ” — 66 1 will  not  stop,”  returned  Charles,  64  until  I bring 
them  all  into  the  toils.” 

1 The  net  was  almost  ready  to  be  drawn.  The  mar- 

'u  ’ riage  of  the  king  of  Navarre,  with  Margaret  of  Valois, 
was,  at  length,  completed;  and,  according  to  agreement, 
was  neither  wholly  in  the  catholic,  nor  the  protestant  form. 
For  several  days,  there  was  given  a variety  of  magnificent 
entertainments.  The  dark  designs  of  Catherine  and  Charles 
were  now  brought  to  a crisis.  Their  scheme  of  alluring  the 
principal  leaders  of  the  protestants  to  Paris,  had,  by  means 
of  the  nuptials,  and  the  delusion  of  the  admiral,  succeeded, 
almost  beyond  their  hopes.  Above  seven-hundred  of  the 
nobility  and  gentry  of  that  persuasion,  the  flower  of  their 
chieftains,  were  now  lodged  in  the  city  or  suburbs,  disarmed 
and  unprepared. 

The  assassination  of  Coligni,  was  the  first  stroke  of  ven- 
geance resolved  on,  by  the  detestable  junto  of  Catherine  and 


* A livre  is  equal  in  value  to  about  eighteen  cents. 
q 2 


186 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


her  son;  and  its  execution  was  assigned  to  the  duke  of  Guise. 
The  admiral,  on  his  return  from  the  Louvre,  to  his  own 
apartments,  had  to  pass  by  the  cloister  of  the  church  of  St. 
Germain  L’Auxerrois.  At  this  place,  within  the  house  of 
Ville-Mar,  who  had  been  preceptor  to  the  duke  of  Guise, 
Maurevel,  the  assassin  employed  by  the  duke,  had  taken  his 
station;  and,  in  the  morning  of  the  twenty-second  of  August, 
as  the  admiral  passed  the  house,  at  a slow  pace,  (being  en- 
gaged in  reading  a paper  that  had  been  presented  to  him,  on 
the  way)  Maurevel  fired  his  arquebuss  at  him,  loaded  with 
two  bullets;  one  of  which  tore  a finger  off  his  right  hand, 
and  the  other  lodged  deep  in  his  left  arm. 

The  general  massacre  of  the  protestants,  which  had  been 
long  meditated,  by  the  court,  was  fixed  for  the  twenty- 
fourth;  which  was  the  feast  of  St.  Bartholomew;  and  the 
duke  of  Guise  was  again  called  upon,  to  act  his  part.  The 
great  bell  at  the  palace  was  to  be  sounded,  as  a signal  to 
begin.  But  Charles  paused,  for  a moment,  in  this  work  of 
blood.  As  the  fatal  hour  drew  near,  he  is  said  to  have  been 
goaded  by  the  stings  of  remorse;  and  to  have  betrayed  such 
fear  and  irresolution,  that  all  the  art  of  his  mother  was  re- 
quired, to  extort  from  him  an  order  for  the  assassins  to  com- 
mence: overcome,  however,  by  her  importunities,  and  her 
impious  exhortations,  his  eyes  glared  with  rage,  and  he  pro- 
nounced the  horrid  mandate,  66  Go  on,  and  let  none  remain, 
to  reproach  me  with  the  deed.” 

The  duke  of  Guise  immediately  issued  forth,  to  perpetrate 
the  murder  of  Coligni.  The  clamour,  which  had  been  faintly 
heard,  at  first,  having  increased,  and  several  shots  having 
been  fired,  under  his  window,  the  admiral  arose  from  his 
bed,  and  covered  himself  with  his  night-gown;  when  he  was 
soon  convinced,  by  his  attendants,  who  hurried  to  his  cham- 
ber, that  the  worst  was  to  be  feared.  The  pale  looks  and 
trembling  gestures  of  his  domestics,  announced  the  immediate 
fate  that  they  expected.— 44  This  instant,” — exclaimed  one 
of  them — 64  God  calls  us,  to  meet  our  death.” — 44  It  is 
enough,”  said  Coligni,  44  that  I know  it.” — He  leaned,  for 
some  moments,  against  the  wall,  in  prayer;  then,  with  a 
countenance  undismayed, — 44  Away,”  said  he,  44  my  friends; 
save  yourselves,  if  possible:  let  not  your  unprofitable  stay 
be  mourned  by  your  wives  and  children.  ” — In  a few  minutes, 
the  door  was  burst  open,  and  seven  armed  ruffians  entered 
the  apartment.  Besme,  a German,  stepped  before  the  rest, 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


187 


and,  flourishing  his  sword,  exclaimed,  “Art  thou  Coligni  r” 
“I  am,”  replied  the  admiral,  with  a steady  voice  and  firm 
countenance;  “ and  you,  young  soldier,  ought  to  respect  my 
gray  hairs.  But,  come  on,”  continued  he,  to  Besme,  66  do 
what  thou  wilt,  thou  canst  shorten  my  life  but  little.” — At 
that  instant,  he  received  the  villain’s  sword  in  his  breast; 
which  rather  courted,  than  shunned  the  blow;  and  yielded 
up  his  life,  without  a groan. — Immediately,  the  alarm-bell 
was  rung,  and  the  populace  were  roused  to  spread  the  mas- 
sacre. Many  nobles,  of  distinguished  valour,  were  soon 
despatched.  The  king  of  Navarre  and  prince  of  Conde, 
were  awakened,  by  a band  of  soldiers,  who,  rushing  into 
their  chamber,  in  the  palace,  rudely  commanded  them  to 
dress  themselves,  and  attend  the  king,  unarmed. — 64 1 pardon 
you,”  exclaimed  the  infuriated,  Charles,  “ on  this  condition, 
that  you  instantly  renounce  that  impious  faith,  which  contra- 
dicts mine,  and  teaches  you  to  insult  my  sovereign  power.  ” 
The  king  of  Navarre’s  renunciation  was  given,  in  a low, 
embarrassed  voice;  but  the  prince  of  Conde  boldly  express- 
ed his  indignation,  and  declared,  that  the  fear  of  death 
should  never  render  him  an  apostate. 

For  three  days,  the  massacre  was  continued,  in  the  city, 
with  unabated  fury;  during  which,  six-thousand  protestants, 
of  whom  five-hundred  were  nobility,  fell  a sacrifice  to  re- 
ligious intolerance.  But  this  horrid  tragedy  was  not  confined 
to  Paris.  At  Meaux,  Orleans,  Troyes,  Lyons,  Bourges, 
Rouen,  and  Toulouse,  and  many  other  places,  the  cruelty 
of  the  Parisians  was  emulated,  and  thirty-thousand  persons 
were  murdered,  in  cold  blood. 

To  the  count  of  Charnay,  it  was  owing,  that  only  one  pro- 
testant  was  killed  in  Burgundy.  But  the  answer,  made  by 
the  viscount  D’Ortez,  governor  of  Bayonne,  to  Charles,  who 
had  written  a private  letter  to  him,  is  worthy  of  particular 
notice:  “You  must  not,  on  this  point,  expect  obedience 
from  me.  I have  signified  the  orders,  sent  by  your  majesty, 
to  the  inhabitants  of  the  town,  and  the  troops  in  the  garrison; 
and  I found  them  ready  to  act  like  good  citizens,  and  biave 
soldiers,  but  not  one  hangman  amongst  them  all.” 

The  court  now  believed  that  they  had  effected  the  total 
extinction  of  the  protestant  party.  But  they  were  soon 
made  sensible  of  their  error.  Though  massacre  had  di- 
minished their  number,  persecution  served  to  invigorate  their 


188 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


spirit.  The  royal  army  gathered  no  laurels,  in  the  war  that 
immediately  ensued;  while  the  Hugonots  seemed  fearless  of 
death,  in  every  shape,  and  displayed  extraordinary  feats  of 
gallantry  and  valour.  At  the  siege  of  Dumfronty  one  of 
their  officers  having  received  a shot  in  his  head,  which  de- 
prived him  of  speech,  he  went  into  the  nearest  tent,  and 
made  a sign  that  he  wished  for  pen  and  paper;  and,  sitting 
down,  to  write  a letter  to  his  mistress,  with  his  blood,  he 
died,  the  moment  it  was  finished.  Colombiere,  to  whom 
the  defence  of  that  place  had  been  committed,  having  been 
urged  to  surrender,  in  order  to  avoid  the  slaughter  of  a 
general  assault — 64  I shall  teach  my  companions,’5  said  he, 
46  how  they  ought  to  die;”  and,  accordingly,  he  took  his 
station  in  the  middle  of  the  breach,  now  seventy  paces  in 
length,  with  his  two  sons,  one  on  each  side  of  him;  the  eider 
being  twelve,  the  younger  ten  years  old.  — 66  In  yielding  my 
life,  to  God,”  said  he,  to  those  around  him,  66 1,  at  the  same 
time,  offer  to  him,  what  I hold  dearest  in  the  world.  It  is 
better  for  them  to  die,  undishonoured  and  uncorrupted,  with 
their  father,  than  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  those  who  may 
pervert  them.”* — A ball  having  pierced  ids  head,  he  soon 
fell,  and  the  breach  was  abandoned,  by  his  followers;  but 
compassion  moved  the  catholic  soldiers,  to  save  the  lives  of 
his  forlorn  offspring. 

.j  The  king  had,  for  a considerable  time,  been  afflict- 

' / ed  with  a most  painful  disorder.  There  now  ap- 
peared unequivocal  symptoms  of  approaching  death.  The 
conflict  between  his  youthful  strength,  and  the  fatal  power 
of  his  disease,  threw  him  into  convulsions;  during  which,  the 
blood  issued  through  the  pores,  in  almost  every  part  of  his 
body;  and,  after,  it  is  said,  expressing  the  deepest  remorse 
for  the  massacre  of  St.  Bartholomew,  and  other  acts  of  vio- 
lence, to  which  he  had  been  instigated  by  his  mother,  he  ex- 
pired, in  the  twenty-fifth  yea)  of  his  age,  and  the  fourteenth 
of  his  reign. 

He  was  entombed,  with  little  ceremony;  and,  before  the 
funeral  convoy  reached  St.  Dennis,  it  was  deserted  by  all 
the  followers,  except  Brantome,  and  four  other  gentlemen 
of  the  bed-chamber,  and  the  guard  of  archers. 

Charles  had  a taste  for  the  fine  arts;  which  appears  in- 
compatible with  the  cruelty  and  moroseness  of  his  temper. 
Besides  rewarding  the  genius  of  the  poet  Ilousard,  he  wrote 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


189 


verses  in  his  praise,  not  inferior  to  those  of  the  master  that 
he  had  admired;  and  also  composed  a book,  on  his  favourite 
amusement  of  the  chase. 

He  caused  a smith’s  forge  to  be  erected,  in  his  palace: 
where  he  amused  himself  with  the  fabrication  of  gun-barrels, 
horse-chains,  and  other  pieces  of  smith’s  work.  He  piqued 
himself,  on  his  talent  of  imitating,  with  the  greatest  nicety, 
the  various  coins  in  circulation,  such  as  the  crown,  the  double 
ducat,  and  the  testoon.  When  he  showed  one  of  these  to 
the  cardinal  Lorraine,  for  his  approbation,  66  Ah,  Sir,”  said 
the  prelate,  66  you  can  do  whatever  you  please — you  always 
carry  your  pardon  in  your  own  pocket.” 

In  the  last  year  of  the  reign  of  Charles  IX.,  the  revenues 
did  not  amount  to  nine  millions  of  livres. 

HENRY  III. 

1574— 1589. 

Not  having  had  any  male  issue,  Charles  was  succeeded  by 
his  next  brother,  the  duke  of  Anjou,  who  now  returned  from 
Poland;  to  the  throne  of  which  kingdom,  he  had  been  elected, 
in  the  preceding  year. 

In  his  early  youth,  Henry  had  displayed  uncommon  abili- 
ties: his  manners  were  insinuating,  his  person  graceful,  his 
countenance  beautiful;  and  the  people  regarded,  with  the 
most  partial  anticipation,  the  hero  of  Jarnac  and  Moncontour. 
He  was  now  in  his  twenty-third  year.  But  his  unbecoming 
deportment,  as  a king,  but  ill  corresponded  with  his  firmness 
in  the  field;  and  his  subjects  soon  discovered  a monarch, 
irresolute,  inconstant,  indolent,  and  voluptuous,  mingling 
devotion  with  sensuality,  and  alternately  governed  by  the 
licentious  minions  of  his  court,  and  by  bigoted  priests,  who 
assumed  the  direction  of  his  conscience. 

He  established  fraternities  of  penitents,  in  the  South,  dis- 
tinguished from  each  other,  by  the  colours  of  white,  blue, 
and  black;  and  has  been  seen  assisting,  barefooted,  at  their 
processions,  his  body  covered  with  sackcloth,  and  his  head 
masked  in  a capouch. 

One  of  his  earliest  resolutions,  was  to  prosecute  the  war 
against  the  Hugonots.  The  marshal  D’Ainville,  brother  of 
Montmorenci,  informed  of  his  determination,  boldly  erected 
the  standard  of  opposition,  and  supported,  in  Languedoc, 
the  principles  of  Calvin:  and  the  prince  of  Conde,  together 


190 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


with  the  king  of  Navarre,  (who  now  abjured  the  catholic 
religion)  joined  the  forces  of  the  confederates;  while  the 
duke  of  Alenqon,  presumptive  heir  to  the  crown,  inflamed 
tof  a wild  ambition,  deserted  the  court,  and  armed  against 
his  brother.  But,  the  peace  which  Henry  was,  in  conse- 
quence,  forced  to  subscribe,  he  was  not  long  allowed 
' ’ to  observe,  irritated  by  the  favourable  conditions 
granted  to  the  Calvinists,  the  Roman  Catholics  formed 
themselves  into  a combination,  called  the  Holy  League;  and 
chose,  for  their  protectors,  the  pope  and  the  king  of  Spain. 
Though  sensible  of  the  degradation,  Henry  declared  himself 
the  head  of  this  confederacy;  and,  by  the  importunity  of  the 
leaguers,  was  soon  compelled  to  rescind  the  late  edict  of 
pacification. 

1581  Opeil  hostilities  between  the  two  religious  sects, 
were  repeatedly  suspended,  by  treaties;  which,  as 
they  were  made  without  faith,  were  broken  without  hesita- 
tion. Nor  was  it  alone  in  France,  that  religious  rancour 
had  kindled  the  flames  of  civil  war.  They  burned,  with  not 
less  violence,  in  the  Netherlands;  where  the  unrelenting 
Philip,  seconded  by  the  congenial  inclinations  of  the  duke 
of  Alva,  had  consigned  numbers  of  his  Flemish  subjects  to 
exile,  torture,  and  a cruel  death.  The  retreat  of  the  duke 
of  Orange  into  Germany,  induced  them  to  invite,  to  their 
assistance,  the  duke  of  Anjou;  who  repaid  the  honour  con- 
ferred upon  him,  by  the  most  signal  acts  of  treachery  and 
desertion. 

The  death  of  the  duke  of  Anjou  disconcerted,  but 
00  * did  not  extinguish,  the  daring  projects  of  the  house 
of  Lorraine.  The  three  brothers,  the  duke  and  cardinal  of 
Guise,  and  the  duke  of  Mayenne,  openly  placed  themselves 
at  the  head  of  the  league;  and,  inflaming  the  people  with  the 
dread  of  an  heretical  sovereign,  avowed  their  resolution  to 
transfer  the  pretences  of  the  king  of  Navarre,  now  presump- 
tive heir  of  the  throne,  to  his  uncle,  the  cardinal  of  Bourbon, 
a zealous  catholic;  but  who,  incapable,  from  age  and  in- 
firmities, of  holding  the  reins  of  government  himself,  was  to 
deliver  them  into  the  hands  of  the  duke  of  Guise.  A coun- 
cil of  sixteen  citizens  of  Paris,  nominated  by  the  duke, 
insulted  their  sovereign,  and  filled  the  streets  with  confusion. 
D’Ainville,  who,  by  the  death  of  his  brother,  had  become 
marshal  Montmorenci,  assuming,  in  Languedoc,  a tone  of 
independence,  declared  himself  the  head  of  a third  party, 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


191 


attached  to  the  ancient  constitution,  in  church  and  state; 
and  the  king’s  favourite,  the  duke  of  Joyeuse,  accompanied 
by  the  flower  of  the  French  nobility,  was  defeated  and  slain, 
by  the  king  of  Navarre’s  troops,  at  Contras. 

The  prince  of  Conde  soon  afterwards  expired,  at 
* St.  Jean  D’Arigeli,  in  consequence  of  poison;  the 
administering  of  which,  was  imputed  to  his  consort,  whose 
innocence  was,  however,  vindicated,  by  a public  trial. 

Henry  at  length  determined  upon  the  death  of  the 
^uo*  duke  of  Guise.  Grillon,  who  commanded  the  royal 
guards,  was  first  solicited,  to  strike  the  fatal  blow';  but,  with 
a dignity  of  mind,  equal  to  his  valoutyhe  replied,  that  his 
rank  and  office  allowed  him  not  to  play  the  executioner. 
“ I will  challenge  the  duke,”  continued  he,  u and,  if  permit- 
ted, endeavour  to  kill  him,  fairly,  with  my  sword.”  But 
the  king’s  purpose  was  not  changed,  by  this  refusal.  He 
fixed  upon  Loignac,  the  first  gentleman  of  his  bed-chamber; 
who  readily  accepted  the  commission,  and  was  joined  by  a 
select  number  of  Gascons,  who  had  been  introduced  for  the 
immediate  protection  of  the  king’s  person.  As  the  duke 
entered  the  cabinet  of  the  king,  through  a long  and  gloomy 
passage,  he  was  assailed,  by  their  numerous  daggers:  six 
poniards  were  plunged,  at  once,  into  his  bosom,  and,  ex- 
claiming, w ith  a deep  groan,  64  My  God,  have  mercy  on 
me,”  lie  fell,  breathless,  upon  the  floor. 

His  brother,  the  cardinal  of  Guise,  was  involved  in  his 
destruction;  and  Catherine  soon  afterwards  died,  of  a severe 
indisposition,  in  the  seventieth  year  of  her  age;  exhorting 
Henry,  in  her  last  moments,  to  reconcile  himself  to  the 
princes  of  his  blood,  particularly  to  the  king  of  Navarre; 
and  to  restore  the  tranquility  of  France,  by  allowing  a free 
exercise  of  the  protestant  religion. 

The  king  was  soon  convinced  how  necessary  it  was  to 
adopt  the  dying  councils  of  his  mother.  After  the  murder 
of  the  Guises,  the  crowd  that  attended  him  to  Blois,  hastily 
dispersed;  the  multitude  abhorred  him;  the  majority  of  his 
nobler  combined  against  him;  and  the  clergy  publicly  re- 
viled Tnm.  All  zealous  catholics  were  armed  against  him; 
the  doctors  of  the  Sorbonne  absolved  his  subjects  from  their 
allegiance;  the  duke  of  Mayenne,  brother  to  the  late  duke 
of  Guise,  was  appointed  lieutenant  general  of  France;  while 
pope  Sixtus  Y.  fulminated  his  thunders  against  the  assassins 


f92 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


of  the  latter,  and  involved  the  king  in  the  sentence  of  ex- 
communication. 

But,  a ray  of  hope  broke  in  upon  Henry,  from  the 
attachment  of  the  princes  of  the  blood:  a reconci- 
liation was  effected  with  the  king  of  Navarre;  and,  on  the 
last  day  of  July,  after  a series  of  brilliant  achievements, 
they  invested  the  capital  of  France. 

Paris  must  soon  have  been  compelled  to  acknowledge  the 
authority  of  her  sovereign,  had  not  the  punishmeht  which 
the  citizens  had  so  long  provoked,  been  arrested,  by  the 
dagger  of  an  assassin. 

James  Clement,  a Jacobin  friar,  of  strong  passions,  but 
weak  intellects,  had  readily  listened  to  the  treasonable  dis- 
courses, daily  thundered,  by  the  popular  preachers,  from 
their  pulpits:  and,  perhaps  incited  by  persons  of  superior 
rank,  he  determined,  at  one  murderous  stroke,  to  extinguish 
the  enemy  of  the  pope,  and  of  the  catholic  religion.  With 
a passport,  procured  under  false  pretences,  and  a letter, 
forged  by  president  Harlay,  at  that  time  confined  in  the  Bas- 
tile,  he  set  out,  from  Paris,  for  St.  Cloud,  the  royal  quarters: 
on  the  road,  iie  met  the  attorney  general,  and,  informing  him 
that  he  had  some  important  intelligence,  to  communicate  to 
the  king,  in  person,  that  officer  engaged  to  procure  him  an 
audience  of  Henry.  The  next  morning,  he  was  accordingly 
intioduced  to  the  king,  to  whom  he  presented  his  letters; 
but,  while  Henry  was  occupied  in  their  perusal,  Clement 
suddenly  plunged  a knife,  that  he  had  concealed  in  his 
sleeve,  into  the  body  of  his  unhappy  sovereign.  The  wound- 
ed monarch  instantly  drew  it  out,  and  twice  struck  with  it, 
at  the  assassin;  the  attorney  general,  with  a blow  of  his 
sword,  extended  him  upon  the  floor,  and  the  royal  guards 
immediately  despatched  him. 

Repeated  faintings  soon  advised  the  king  of  his  approach- 
ing end;  and  he  prepared  to  meet  it,  with  a fortitude  and 
composure,  worthy  of  his  exalted  station.  He  summoned, 
to  his  presence,  the  king  of  Navarre;  whom  he  tenderly 
embraced,  and  declared  his  lawful  successor;  and  expired, 
the  next  morning,  in  the  sixteenth  year  of  his  reign,  and  the 
thirty -ninth  of  his  age. 

In  him,  was  finally  extinguished  the  house  of  Valois;  after 
having  reigned  two-hundred-and-sixty-one  years. 

The  reign  of  Henry  III.,  though  turbulent,  produced, 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


195 

nevertheless,  some  advantage  to  the  nation.  Impoverished 
by  luxury,  the  nobles  were  desirous  of  selling  a part,  or 
sometimes  the  whole  of  their  lands;  and  the  commons,  en- 
riched by  the  gradual  progress  of  commerce  and  industry., 
obtained,  at  this  time,  the  privilege  of  purchasing  their 
estates,  but  without  their  titles,  or  any  feudal  jurisdiction. 
Thus,  a great  part  of  the  lands  of  the  kingdom  passed  into 
the  hands  of  the  commons,  without  transferring,  to  them, 
the  dangerous  power  of  the  aristocracy;  a circumstance 
equally  advantageous  to  the  crown,  and  beneficial  to  the 
people. 

It  was  in  this  reign,  that  post-offices  were  first  established, 
by  royal  authority,  in  France.  The  university  of  Paris, 
being  formerly  the  only  great  seminary  of  learning,  in  the 
kingdom,  and  having  a great  number  of  students  resorting 
to  it,  from  every  part  of  the  country;  for  their  convenience, 
employed  regular  messengers,  whose  business  was  not  only 
to  bring,  for  them,  clothes,  silver,  and  gold,  but  likewise 
to  carry  bags  of  law-proceedings,  informations,  and  in- 
quests; to  conduct  all  sorts  of  persons,  indifferently,  to  and 
from  Paris;  find  them  both  horses  and  diet;  and  carry 
letters  and  parcels  for  the  public.  The  university  never 
had  any  fund  or  support,  except  that  arising  from  the  post- 
office.  In  the  year  1576,  the  king  appointed  messengers  to 
travel  over  the  same  routes,  with  the  same  rights  and  privi- 
leges as  his  predecessors  had  granted  to  the  university  of 
Paris;  which  at  length  engrossed  the  whole  business  of  the 
kingdom. 


HENRY  IY 
1589—1610. 

This  prince,  now  in  his  thirty-fifth  year,  was  descended 
from  Robert,  count  of  Clermont,  the  sixth  son  of  Louis  IX. 
Robert  had  married  the  heiress  of  the  barony  of  Bourbon; 
ahAthe  frown  devolved,  by  legitimate  succession,  upon  his 
do^PSclant,  Henry  IY.,  after  having  been  possessed,  by  the 
elder  branches  of  the  family  of  Capet,  three -hundred -an  d- 
twenty  years. 

But,  with  the  right,  Henry  can  not  be  said,  at  this  time, 
to  have  enjoyed  the  possession,  of  the  crown.  He  was,  in- 
deed, at  the  head  of  a numerous  army;  but  the  greater  part 


194 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


of  his  troops,  as  well  as  of  his  subjects,  were  catholics;  his 
capital  was  in  the  hands  of  a faction,  formidable  by  their 
numbers,  and  daring  in  their  designs;  his  treasury  was 
empty;  the  most  fertile  provinces  of  France,  acknowledged 
the  authority  of  the  league:  and,  though  aided  by  the  constant 
friendship  of  Elizabeth,  he  was  opposed,  with  inveterate 
hostility,  by  Philip,  as  much  the  enemy  of  the  protestant, 
as  the  queen  of  England  of  the  catholic  religion. 

It  is  not  our  intention,  to  attempt  even  a faint  outline  of 
the  long  series  of  military  operations,  by  which  the  first 
nine  years  of  this  memorable  reign,  were  distinguished. 
Enough  has  already  been  detailed,  in  the  preceding  reign. 
Aided  by  the  young  Coligni,  the  prince  of  Conti,  Mont- 
morenci,  and  other  officers  of  merit,  and  opposed  by  the 
duke  of  Mayenne,  his  nephew  the  duke  of  Guise,  marshal 
Biron,  count  de  Brissac,  and  many  more  active  command- 
ers, amongst  the  French  nobility,  Henry  showed  himself 
less  politic  and  skilful,  than  active  and  valiant,  in  the  field. 
Too  readily  extending  his  clemency  to  leaders,  by  whom 
he  had  been  most  violently  opposed,  and  not  unfrequently 
betrayed,  he  thus  cherished  a rebellion,  which  a monarch 
of  less  splendid  talents,  but  of  better  judgment,  would 
easily  have  crushed:  and,  while  he  forgave  the  treason  of 
one  perfidious  noble,  he  encouraged  others  to  prolong  the 
bloody  contest,  until  all  hopes  of  their  success  had  vanished, 
and  thousands  of  his  devoted  subjects  had  fallen,  to  rise  no 
more. 

The  duke  of  Mayenne  assumed  the  supreme  administra- 
tion of  affairs,  at  Paris,  and  proclaimed,  as  king,  the  car- 
dinal of  Bourbon;  then,  a prisoner  to  Henry,  under  the 
title  of  Charles  X.  But,  in  the  following  year,  this  compe- 
titor sunk  into  the  grave;  expressing,  in  his  last  moments, 
his  regard  for  his  successful  rival,  and  consciousness  of  the 
interested  views  of  those  who  had  tried  to  elevate  himself 
to  the  throne. 

The  king’s  forces  were  still  less  numerous  than  those  of 
the  league;  but  the  deficiency  in  their  number  wasi^Jppen- 
sated  by  their  valour.  He  attacked  the  duke  of  Mayenne, 
at  Ivri,  and  gained  a complete  victory  over  him,  though 
supported  by  a select  body  of  Spanish  troops.  Henry’s  be- 
haviour, on  this  occasion,  was  truly  heroic.  “My  lads,” 
said  he,  to  his  soldiers,  “if  you  should  lose  sight  of  your 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


195 


colours,  rally  towards  this,” — pointing  to  a large  white 
plume,  worn  by  him,  in  his  hat:— 66  you  will  always  find 
that  in  the  road  to  honour.” 

. ™ The  progress  of  the  Spanish  arms,  though  directed 
0 by  the  great  genius  of  the  prince  of  Parma,  had  yet 
been  attended  by  no  permanent  advantage;  and  Philip 
now  endeavoured  to  secure,  in  his  family,  the  crown  of 
France,  the  chief  object  of  his  ambition.  He  had  prevailed 
upon  the  duke  of  Mayenne,  to  assemble  the  states,  at  Paris; 
and  the  duke  of  Feria,  the  Spanish  ambassador,  endeavoured 
to  persuade  the  deputies,  to  place,  upon  the  throne,  Isabella, 
the  daughter  of  his  royal  master,  as  the  nearest  relative  of 
Henry  III.  But,  while  the  king  of  Spain  and  the  catholic 
chiefs,  were  bewildered  in  a labyrinth  of  negotiations,  both 
were  surprised,  by  an  event,  as  important,  as  it  was  unex- 
pected. Henry  had  beheld,  with  anxiety,  the  assembly  of 
the  states,  and  dreaded  the  intrigues  of  the  duke  of  Mayenne, 
with  the  court  of  Spain.  The  most  distinguished  of  the 
protestant  leaders,  and  his  favourite  Rosni,  afterwards  bet- 
ter known  by  the  title  of  duke  of  Sully,  exhorted  him  to 
consult  the  happiness  of  his  subjects,  and  to  relinquish  a 
faith,  which  he  could  maintain  only  amidst  scenes  of  blood 
and  devastation.  In  consequence  of  this  advice,  Henry 
Oeard  mass  at  St.  Dennis,  read  aloud  his  confession  of  the 
catholic  faith,  and  declared  his  resolution  constantly  to 
maintain  and  defend  it.  But,  though  Sully,  always  attentive 
to  the  interests  of  the  kingdom,  had  prevailed  upon  his  mas- 
ter to  become  a catholic,  to  please  his  catholic  subjects  of 
France,  yet  when  solicited  himself  to  abandon  the  protest- 
ant tenets,  he  firmly  refused;  and  replied  to  the  pope,  who 
artfully  pressed  him  to  enter  upon  the  right  way — 64 1 never 
shall  cease  to  pray  for  the  conversion  of  your  holiness.” 

The  tergiversation  of  Henry,  while  it  alienated  the  con- 
fidence of  the  protestants,  did  not  ensure  the  submission  of 
his  catholic  subjects.  The  elements  of  civil  commotion, 
continued  to  be  excited,  by  the  court  of  Rome.  Clement 
VIII.  refused  to  admit  the  ambassadors  of  Henry,  or  to  re- 
lieve him  from  the  sentence  of  excommunication.  Alarmed 
at  the  intelligence,  that  the  king  had  entered  the  pale  of  the 
catholic  church,  the  duke  of  Mayenne  and  the  Spanish  mi- 
nisters resumed  their  intrigues,  with  redoubled  vigour. 
They  represented  his  sudden  change  of  religion,  as  a politic 
device,  to  defeat  the  election  of  a catholic  prince;  and  per- 


196 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


suaded  a number  of  their  adherents  to  swear,  that  they 
would  not  acknowledge  Henry,  as  their  king,  until  his  con- 
version was  ratified,  by  the  pope.  A happy  incident,  how 
1594  eYer’  S0(m  occurred,  in  favour  of  the  king.  Sum- 
moned, by  the  disorders  of  Picardy,  to  that  province, 
the  duke  of  Mayenne  intrusted  the  government  of  Paris  to 
the  count  de  Brissac;  who  immediately  entered  into  a nego- 
tiation with  Henry,  and  agreed  to  admit  the  royal  troops. 
While  the  Spanish  were  amused,  by  the  arts  of  Brissac, 
one  of  the  gates  was  opened  to  Henry  and  his  army;  who 
instantly  took  possession  of  the  principal  squares  and  streets. 
The  Parisians  received  their  sovereign  with  loud  acclama- 
tions; the  troops  maintained  the  most  exact  discipline;  and, 
amidst  the  revolution,  the  city  bore  the  appearance  of  secu- 
rity and  peace. 

The  daily  return  of  his  subjects  to  their  allegiance,  and 
the  declining  state  of  the  league,  inspired  Henry  with  more 
vigorous  councils.  He  publicly  declared  war  against  Spain, 
and  entered  into  a treaty  of  alliance  with  the  revolted  in- 
habitants of  the  Spanish  Netherlands;  who,  by  the  treaty 
of  Utrecht,  had  laid  the  foundation  of  a free  republic,  under 
the  title  of  the  United  Provinces. 

Meanwhile,  the  enemies  of  Henry  resolved  to  assail  his 
life.  When  stooping,  to  embrace  a nobleman  who  was  pre- 
sented to  him,  in  his  apartments  of  the  Louvre,  he  received 
a stroke,  from  a knife,  that  cut  his  lip,  and  broke  one  of  his 
teeth.  The  assassin  was  immediately  seized.  His  name 
was  John  Chatel,  a student  of  the  college  of  the  Jesuits;  to 
the  influence  of  whose  doctrines,  he  attributed  his  atrocious 
attempt.  He  confessed,  that,  as  Henry  had  not  yet  been 
absolved  by  the  pope,  he  thought  he  might  kill  him,  with  a 
safe  conscience.  Chatel  was  instantly  consigned  to  the 
punishment  due  to  his  crime;  and  the  whole  order  of  the 
Jesuits,  were  commanded,  on  the  penalty  of  death,  to  quit 
the  kingdom  of  France;  an  edict,  which,  ten  years  after- 
wards, was  revoked. 

The  absolution  subsequently  granted,  to  Henry,  by  the 
pope,  and  the  consequent  submission  of  the  duke  of  May- 
enne, were  important  circumstances,  in  favour  of  the  royal 
authority  ; but  the  advantages  arising  from  these,  were  partly 
1590  counterbalanced  by  the  loss  of  Calais,  and  soon 
0 * afterwards  of  Amiens;  both  places  having  been  taken 

by  the  Spanish  troops.  Amiens,  the  capital  of  Picardy,  had 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE, 


IS  7 

but  lately  submitted  to  the  king  of  France;  and  the  citizens, 
together  with  their  ancient  privileges,  had  obtained  an  ex- 
emption from  being  garrisoned  by  regular  troops.  Of  fifteen- 
thousand  inhabitants,  who  were  enrolled,  only  a few  were 
employed  as  sentinels  and  guards;  and  even  these  performed 
their  duty  in  the  most  negligent  manner.  Their  remissness 
had  not  escaped  the  knowledge  of  Portocarrero,  the  Spanish 
governor  of  Dourlens;  an  officer  brave  and  enterprising;  and 
who,  encouraged  by  the  vicinity  of  his  situation,  planned  a 
scheme  for  surprising  Amiens.  With  three-thousand  horse 
and  foot,  he  marched  from  Dourlens;  and,  concealed  by  the 
darkness  of  the  night,  reached,  at  dawn,  a hermitage,  distant 
from  that  city,  about  a quarter  of  a mile.  Twelve  of  his 
most  resolute  soldiers,  disguised  as  peasants,  and  with  arms 
beneath  their  frocks,  were  sent  forward,  as  soon  as  the  gates 
were  opened;  some  nuts  which  they  carried,  and  affected 
accidentally  to  spill,  amused  the  guards;  a wagon  which 
they  had  driven,  and  intentionally  stopped  in  the  gate-way, 
prevented  the  portcullis  from  being  lowered:  they  fell,  with 
fury,  upon  the  astonished  sentinels,  and  were  soon  sup- 
ported by  Portocarrero  and  his  troops,  who  rushed  forward 
to  join  them;  and,  after  a feeble  resistance,  Amiens  submit- 
ted to  the  Spanish  arms. 

The  loss  of  a city,  so  strong,  so  well  provided,  and  so  near 
to  Paris,  struck  Henry  with  consternation.  He  determined 
to  postpone  every  other  project,  to  the  recovery  of  Amiens. 
The  abilities  of  Sully,  to  whom  Henry  had  submitted  the 
regulation  of  the  finances,  surmounted  every  obstacle,  and 
replenished  his  exhausted  treasury:  Henry  himself  joined 
the  blockading  army,  Portocarrero  was  killed,  in  a des- 
perate sally,  and  that  city  soon  afterwards  surrendered  to 
the  French. 

1598  The  recoverJ  °f  Amiens,  and  the  extinction  of  the 
league,  discovered,  to  Philip,  the  vanity  of  those 
flattering  dreams  of  conquest,  by  which  he  had  been  so  long 
deluded.  His  advanced  age,  and  broken  health,  warned 
him  of  his  approaching  end;  and  he  was  unwilling  to  leave 
his  inexperienced  successor,  involved  in  a dangerous  war. 
Nor  was  peace  less  desirable  to  Henry.  The  mediation  of 
Clement  was  accepted;  a congress  was  held,  by  the  pleni- 
potentiaries of  France  and  Spain,  at  Vervins,  a town  of 
Picardy;  and,  after  difficulties,  which  the  zeal  of  Clement 
was  successfully  employed  in  removing,  a treaty  of  peace 


198 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


was  signed;  by  which,  Henry  obtained  restitution  of  Calais 
and  all  the  towns  of  France,  acquired,  by  Philip,  with  so 
much  blood  and  treasure. 

No  kingdom  could  be  more  wretched  than  France,  at  the 
peace  of  Vervins.  The  crown  was  loaded  with  debts  and 
pensions;  the  country  was  barren  and  desolated;  the  people 
poor  and  miserable;  and  the  nobles,  from  a long  habit  of  re- 
bellion, rapine,  and  disorder,  had  lost  nearly  all  sense  of 
justice,  or  allegiance.  Happily,  France  was  favoured  with 
a king,  equally  capable  and  willing  to  remedy  these  evils. 
But  he  stood  in  need  of  an  able  and  upright  minister,  with 
whom  he  might  consult,  on  the  most  important  matters  of 
state;  and  such  an  assistant  he  found  in  de  Rosni;  whom,  to 
add  weight  to  his  measures,  he  created  duke  of  Sully. 

This  nobleman  seemed  formed  to  be  the  minister  of 
Henry  IV.  Alike  brave  in  the  field,  and  penetrating  in  the 
cabinet,  he  was  more  cool  and  persevering  than  the  king 
himself,  whose  volatility  and  quickness  of  thought,  did  not 
permit  him  to  attend  long  to  any  one  object.  By  his  prudent 
measures,  Sully  paid,  in  the  space  of  five  years,  all  the  debts 
of  the  crown;  augmented  the  annual  revenue  four-millions 
of  livres,  and  had  four-millions  in  the  treasury,  though  he 
had  considerably  reduced  the  taxes. 

Previous  to  the  peace  of  Vervins,  Henry  had  endeavoured 
to  secure  the  tranquility  of  the  protestants,  by  the  celebrated 
edict  of  Nantz.  It  granted,  to  the  reformed,  all  the  favours 
in  which  they  had  been  indulged  by  former  princes;  and 
added  a free  admission  to  all  employments  of  trust,  profit, 
and  honour;  also,  an  establishment  of  chambers  of  justice, 
in  which  the  members  of  the  two  religions  were  equal  in 
number;  and  permission  to  educate  their  children,  in  any  of 
the  universities,  without  restraint. 

Tranquility  and  peace  were  thus  restored,  to  his  people; 
but  jealousy  and  discord  prevailed  within  his  palace.  Pre- 
vious to  the  massacre  of  St.  Bartholomew,  it  may  be  re- 
membered, he  had  formed  a politic  union  with  Margaret, 
sister  of  Henry  III  ; a princess  who  united  all  the  opposite 
qualities  of  the  family  of  Valois,  from  which  she  sprung.  The 
beauty  of  her  person  inspired  passion,  in  the  coldest  bosom, 
her  genius  and  imagination  were  celebrated  by  all  the  poets 
of  her  time;  she  sung  and  played  on  the  lute,  with  exquisite 
skill;  and,  in  dancing,  no  lady  of  the  court  was  her  equal: 
but,  so  violent  was  her  love  of  pleasure,  that,  at  a very  early 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


199 


age,  she  had  sacrificed  to  it  her  honour;  the  duke  of  Guise, 
and  several  other  noblemen,  had  been  admitted  to  her  most 
intimate  favours,  previous  to  her  marriage  with  Henry;  and 
her  hours  were  afterwards  alternately  occupied  with  unbridled 
sensuality  and  enthusiastic  devotion. 

But,  she  had  never  been  able  to  touch  the  heart  of  Henry; 
to  whom,  indeed,  her  irregularities,  before  marriage,  were 
not  unknown.  Nor  was  he  himself  exempt  from  reproaches, 
from  similar  habits  of  deviation.  He  had  early  engaged  in 
a variety  of  promiscuous  amours;  but,  for  some  time  past, 
his  unlimited  homage  was  paid  to  the  fair  Gabrielle  D’Estrees; 
upon  whom,  he  had  successively  conferred  the  titles  of 
marchioness  of  Monceaux,  and  dutchess  of  Beaufort.  Two 
sons  were  the  fruits  of  this  illicit  commerce;  and  Henry, 
desirous  of  establishing,  in  his  offspring,  the  peaceable  suc- 
cession of  the  crown,  even  entertained  thoughts  of  legitima- 
ting his  natural  children,  and  dividing  the  throne  with  the 
mistress  of  his  affections. 

1599  r^ie  P°Pe  ^ad  alreadJ  consented  to  the  dissolution 
of  his  marriage;  yet,  both  Margaret  and  Clement 
expressed  their  most  pointed  dissatisfaction,  when  informed 
that  the  dutchess  of  Beaufort  was  intended  to  occupy  her 
place:  but,  while  the  dutchess  was  feasting  her  imagination, 
with  the  grandeur  of  a royal  crown,  the  visionary  prospect 
was  dissolved,  by  the  hand  of  death. 

As  the  effect  of  restraint,  Clement  had  dissolved  the  con- 
nubial tie,  which  united  Margaret  to  the  king:  but  Henry 
was  diverted  from  the  immediate  thoughts  of  a second  mar- 
riage, by  a passion  for  Henrietta  de  Balzac,  daughter  of 
Mary  Touchet,  the  celebrated  mistress  of  Charles  IX.;  to 
which  lady,  created  marchioness  of  Yerneuil,  Henry  trans- 
ferred that  affection,  which  he  had  so  lately  vowed  to  the 
dutchess  of  Beaufort. 

That  artful  wanton  had  obtained  from  him  a promise  of 
marriage,  before  she  would  crown  his  wishes.  He  showed 
the  written  obligation  to  Sully,  when  ready  to  be  delivered; 
and  this  faithful  servant,  transported  with  zeal  for  his 
master’s  honour,  tore  it  to  pieces.' — “ I believe  you  are  be- 
come a fool,”  said  Henry. — U1  know  it,”  replied  Sully; 
“and  wish  I were  the  only  fool  in  France.” 

But  the  remonstrances  of  his  ministers,  and  his  concern 
for  the  public  welfare,  had  reluctantly  extorted  from  him 
permission  to  negotiate  a union  with  Mary  de  Mcdicis, 


200 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


niece  to  the  grand  duke  of  Tuscany.  His  own  ho- 
nour, and  the  happiness  of  his  people,  allowed  him 
not  to  retract:  he  hastened  tu  Lyons,  to  receive  the  hand  of 
Mary,*  and,  whatever  might  be  his  private  feelings,  he  dis- 
covered to  his  royal  consort,  no  emotions  but  those  of  res- 
pect and  regard. 

Though  Henry  devoted  so  much  of  his  time  to  the  female 
sex,  yet  the  administration  of  his  kingdom  obtained  his  un- 
wearied attention.  By  the  integrity  and  industry  of  the 
duke  of  Sully,  regularity  was  introduced  into  the  finances, 
new  manufactures  were  established,  new  colonies  planted, 
commerce  was  extended,  and  agriculture  restored:  the  rage 
of  duelling  was,  at  the  same  time,  restrained,  by  new  edicts; 
but,  it  could  not  be  disguised,  that  the  king,  educated  in 
camps,  and  impressed  with  lively  notions  of  honour,  often 
sanctioned  by  his  expressions,  the  practice  which  his  laws 
were  intended  to  suppress. 

1000  In  this  year,  Henry  experienced  two  narrow  cs- 
’ capes  from  death,  An  unfortunate  wretch,  whom 
insanity  had  impelled  against  his  life,  was  disarmed,  by  his 
attendants,  in  crossing  the  river  Neuilly,  the  royal  car- 
riage, by  the  spirit  of  the  horses,  was  precipitated  from  the 
ferry-boat,  and  overturned,  in  the  middle  of  the  stream;  when 
the  king,  the  queen,  the  duke  of  Yendome,  and  the  princess 
of  Conti,  were  exposed  to  most  imminent  danger;  but  were 
rescued,  by  the  zeal  and  alacrity  of  their  retinue;  and  Henry 
himself,  after  safely  gaining  the  shore,  plunged  again  into 
the  river,  to  extricate  the  queen. 

1 But,  while  the  multitude  exulted  at  the  safety  of 

their  sovereign,  the  royal  bosom  was  doomed  to  be 
afflicted  with  those  cares,  which  invade  alike  the  habitation 
of  the  peasant  and  the  prince.  Cold  and  reserved  in  her 
temper  and  manner,  the  queen  received,  with  indifference, 
the  attention  of  her  husband.  The  happiness  which  Henry 
found  not  in  the  company  and  conversation  of  his  queen, 
lie  sought  in  the  society  of  others.  The  arrogance  of  the 
marchioness  of  Yerneuil,  had,  for  some  time  past,  b‘een  in- 
sufferable: the  lively  wit  and  amiable  manners  of  Charlotte 
Montmorenci,  a daughter  of  the  constable,  had  insensibly 
kindled  the  fire  of  love  within  his.  heart.  Neither  time  nor 
ambition,  religion  nor  morality,  could  extinguish  this  fatal 
flame:  he  determined  to  bestow  her  hand  upon  the  prince 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


201 


enjoy,  at  leas.t,  the  pleasure  of  her  conversation.  The  mar- 
riage was  celebrated  at  Chantilli;  and  drew  forth  an  ex- 
pression from  the  marchioness  of  Verneuil,  that  “ the  king 
had  made  this  match,  to  sink  the  heart,  and  raise  the  head, 
of  tne  prince  of  Conde.”  The  passion  of  Henry  soon 
burst  the  bounds  that  his  prudence  had  prescribed.  The 
prince  desired  leave  to  retire  from  court;  and  the  peremp- 
tory refusal  of  the  king,  served  only  to  confirm  his  suspicion; 
and,  after  giving  way  to  his  indignation,  by  the  most  pointed 
reproaches,  he  secretly  prepared  to  escape,  with  the  princess, 
beyond  the  limits  of  the  kingdom,  before  the  ungovernable 
passion  of  Henry  had  sealed  his  dishonour. 

This  design,  he  executed,  with  success.  Reluctantly  ac- 
companied by  his  wife,  he  eluded  the  vigilance  of  those  who 
had  been  sent  to  observe  him,  and  reached  Landrecy.  The 
king  immediately  despatched  the  captain  of  his  guards,  to 
demand  the  fugitives,  from  the  archduke;  but  Albert  re- 
plied, that  “ he  had  never  yet  violated  the  law  of  nations, 
and  that  he  would  not  begin  with  a prince  royal  of  France.” 
He  immediately  supplied  the  necessities  of  the  prince  of 
Conde,  appointed  an  escort,  to  conduct  him  to  Brussels, 
and  assured  him  of  his  constant  protection. 

1610  The  mac^e  an  unsuccessful  attempt,  to  carry 
off*  the  princess,  by  force.  The  armaments,  before 
suggested  by  ambition,  were  probably  now  hastened  by 
love.  England,  the  independent  principalities  of  Germany, 
and  the  United  Provinces,  all  readily  associated,  with  the 
French  monarch,  in  the  design  of  humbling  the  house  of 
Austria. 

But  the  final  period  of  Henry’s  life,  now  rapidly  ap- 
proached; and,  while  he  meditated  enterprises  the  most 
splendid  and  important,  his  own  death  was  planned  and  ac- 
complished, by  Francis  Ravaillac,  a native  of  Angouleme. 
When  the  distress  of  the  fanatic  Ravaillac,  had  reduced 
him  to  seek  support,  by  imploring  alms,  he  conceived  the 
dark  and  desperate  design,  of  mingling  the  miseries  of  a 
nation  with  Ins  own,  by  arming  his  hand  against  the  sove- 
reign of  France. 

The  morning  that  succeeded  the  coronation  of  the  queen, 
had  been  destined  for  a visit  to  the  arsenal.  The  king 
ordered  his  coach,  and,  accompanied  by  the  duke  d’Eper- 
non,  and  five  other  noblemen,  together  with  du  Plessis  Li- 
ancourt,  his  master  of  horse,  determined  to  proceed.  Vitri, 


202 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


the  captain  of  his  guards,  was  despatched,  to  the  palace, 
to  hasten  the  preparations  for  the  queen’s  entry;  and  the 
king’s  carriage  was  attended  by  only  a small  number  of 
gentlemen,  on  horseback,  and  a few  of  the  royal  footmen. 
The  curtains,  on  every  side,  were  drawn  up.  In  a narrow 
street,  the  coach  was  stopped,  by  the  accidental  meeting  of 
two  carts;  the  majority  of  the  attendants  instantly  took  a 
nearer  way,  and  two  only  were  left: — one  of  these  went  be- 
fore, to  clear  the  passage;  the  other  went  behind,  to  tie  up 
his  garter. — At  this  instant,  as  the  king  turned,  to  read  a 
letter  to  the  duke  d’Epernon,  he  received  a stroke,  from  a 
knife;  and  had  scarcely  time  to  exclaim,  66 1 am  wounded,” 
before  a second,  more  violent,  and  more  fatally  directed, 
pierced  his  heart,  and,  breathing  only  a deep  sigh,  he  sunk 
back,  in  the  coach,  a lifeless  corpse. 

Thus  perished,  in  the  fifty-eighth  year  of  his  age,  and  the 
twenty -first  of  his  reign,  Henry  IV. : to  whom,  has  been 
given  the  rare  and  illustrious  title  of  Great;  with  what  de- 
gree of  justice,  the  history  of  his  actions  will  most  properly 
decide.  He  was  a brave  soldier,  an  enlightened  legislator, 
a kind  and  generous  master,  a warm  and  tender  lover,  a po- 
lite and  obliging  husband:  but  he  contracted  matrimony 
with  a woman  of  blasted  reputation,  and  stooped  to  apostacy, 
to  gain  a throne;  his  passion  for  the  fair,  too  often  led  him 
to  forget  the  prudence  and  dignity  of  the  monarch:  his  ar- 
dent and  guilty  affection  for  the  princess  of  Conde,  in  the 
decline  of  life,  cast  a cloud  over  his  meridian  glory;  and 
the  warmth  witn  which  he  pursued,  and  the  indiscretion 
with  which  he  countenanced,  the  destructive  rage  of  gaming, 
has  been  the  subject  of  severe  and  general  censure. 

As  soon  as  their  presence  of  mind  returned,  the  nobles 
who  accompanied  Henry,  seized  the  assassin;  who  still 
supported  himself  on  the  wheel  of  the  coach,  with  the  bloody 
instrument  yet  reeking  in  his  hand,  as  if  glorying  in  the 
atrocious  deed. 

When  Henry  made  excursions  into  the  distant  provinces, 
he  used  to  stop  the  peasants  whom  he  met,  and  inquire 
where  they  were  going,  what  they  sold,  and  what  was  the 
price.  One  of  his  attendants,  expressing  his  surprise  at 
such  familiarity,  was  answered,  by  the  monarch:  u The 
kings  of  France,  my  predecessors,  thought  themselves  dis- 
honoured in  knowing  the  value  of  a teston.  With  respect 
to  myself,  I am  anxious  to  know  what  is  the  value  of  half  a 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


203 


denier,  and  what  difficulty  the  poor  people  have  to  get  it, 
so  that  they  may  not  be  taxed  above  their  means.95 

Henry  introduced  into  France,  the  culture  and  manufac- 
ture of  silk;  the  success  of  which  fully  realized  his  expecta- 
tions. He  had  the  satisfaction  to  see  that  this  manufacture 
not  only  supplied  the  home  consumption,  but  brought  more 
money  into  the  kingdom,  than  any  of  the  former  staples.  He 
also  established,  at  great  expense,  manufactures  of  tapestry 
and  linen.  The  workmen  for  the  first,  he  drew  from  the 
Spanish  Netherlands;  for  the  last,  from  the  United  Pro- 
vinces; and,  to  facilitate  internal  commerce,  and  promote 
the  accommodation  of  his  subjects,  he  built  the  Pont-Neuf, 
and  cut  the  canal  of  Briare,  which  joins  the  rivers  Seine 
and  Loire;  and  had  projected  the  junction  of  the  two  seas, 
when  a period  was  put  to  all  his  great  designs. 

In  the  latter  part  of  his  reign,  the  French  extended  their 
commercial  enterprise  to  India;  but  they  had  as  yet  no 
colony  in  the  Eastern  seas.  Quebec,  the  oldest  settlement 
in  North  America,  was  founded  by  the  French,  in  the  year 
1606. 

Paris  was  a very  different  city,  in  this  reign,  from  what 
it  is,  at  the  present  day.  It  was  not  lighted;  it  had  few 
coaches;  the  streets  were  extremely  dirty,  and  so  infested 
with  robbers,  that,  by  a regulation  of  the  police,  in  1609,  the 
theatres  were  obliged,  during  the  winter,  to  be  opened  at 
half  past  twelve,  in  the  afternoon,  and  the  plays  to  be 
finished  at  half  past  four;  in  order  to  preserve  the  inhabit- 
ants from  the  dangers  to  which  they  were  exposed,  by  re- 
turning home  in  the  dark. 

Philip  II.,  of  Spain,  died  in  the  year  1598,  and  queen 
Elizabeth,  of  England,  in  1603:  the  former  was  succeeded 
by  Philip  III.  ; the  latter  by  James  I. 

LOUIS  XIII. 

1610—1643. 

France  now  beheld  the  sceptre  pass  from  the  vigorous 
grasp  of  Henry  IV.,  to  the  feeble  hands  of  an  infirnt.  Of 
his  three  sons,  by  Mary  de  Medicis,  the  eldest,  who  now 
succeeded  to  the  throne,  as  Louis  XIII.,  was  only  in  his 
ninth  year:  but,  the  affliction,  if  any  felt,  by  the  queen,  on 
the  loss  of  Henry,  was  suspended,  by  the  more  interesting 


£04 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


care  of  obtaining  the  regency;  and  her  ambition  was  grati- 
fied, by  the  ready  acquiescence  of  the  parliament. 

The  first  moments  had  been  employed  in  the  acquisition 
of  power;  the  next,  were  devoted  to  revenge.  Ravaillac, 
whose  murderous  stroke  had  caused  the  untimely  death  of 
Henry,  was  drawn  from  his  cell,  to  perish  by  the  most  ex- 
quisite torments.  His  bones  were  broken,  by  the  execu- 
tioner; his  flesh  was  torn,  by  red-hot  pincers;  scalding  lead 
and  oil  were  poured  upon  his  wounds;  and  his  mangled 
body,  still  quivering  with  life,  was  delivered  to  be  dismem- 
bered by  four  horses.  But  the  stubborn  frame  resisted  their 
utmost  efforts;  the  indignant  multitude,  whose  thirst  of  ven- 
geance could  no  longer  be  restrained,  rushing  through  the 
guards,  in  an  instant  put  an  end  to  his  sufferings,  by  tear- 
ing him  to  pieces;  and,  with  barbarous  joy,  they  dragged 
his  limbs,  with  frantic  triumph,  through  the  streets. — 
Amidst  every  effort  of  ingenious  cruelty,  inflicted  by  public 
justice,  or  perpetrated  by  the  mob,  he  still  maintained  the 
declaration,  that,  impressed  with  the  idea  that  the  arma- 
ments of  Henry  were  destined  against  the  catholic  church, 
he  alone  had  planned,  he  alone  was  privy  to  the  deed,  to 
the  just  horror  of  which  he  was  now  awakened. 

The  former  ministers  of  the  crown,  the  queen  received 
with  coldness,  and  listened  to  with  disapprobation.  Aban- 
doning herself,  without  reserve,  to  a fond  partiality  for  her 
Italian  adherents — Conchini,  a poor  Florentine  gentleman, 
who  had  come  to  France,  with  Mary,  to  push  his  fortune, 
and  now  assumed  the  title  of  marquis  of  Ancre,  and  after- 
wards  that  of  marshal;  and  Leonora  Galigni,  the  favourite 
of  the  regent,  whom  Mary  had  brought  with  her,  as  a do- 
mestic; and  Conchini,  in  order  to  increase  his  influence, 
had  married— their  united  counsels,  during  the  space  of  six 
years,  ruled  France,  with  imperious  sway. 

Disdaining  the  arts  of  courts,  and  finding  that  sincerity, 
which  had  been  esteemed  by  Henry,  no  longer  acceptable, 
the  duke  of  Sully  retired  to  his  estates. 

Instead  of  attempting  to  repress  the  dangerous  ambition 
of  the  house  of  Austria,  the  regent,  in  order  to  establish  her 
authority,  determined  closely  to  unite  nerself  with  that 
family;  and,  while  the  young  king  was  contracted  to  the 
Infanta  of  Spain,  the  hand  of  his  sister,  the  princess  Eliza- 
beth, was  engaged  to  the  prince  of  Asturias,  afterwards 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


205 


Philip  IV.  The  marquis  dissipated,  with  lavish  hands,  the 
treasures  collected  by  the  ambition  of  Henry,  and  preserved 
by  the  frugality  of  Sully;  and  prevailed  upon  the  queen  to 
arrest  the  prince  of  Conde;  who  had  presumed  to  menace 
him  with  his  indignation.  The  dukes  of  Vendome,  Nevers, 
and  Rohan,  (the  son-in-law  of  Sully)  and  other  noblemen  of 
honourable  feelings,  retired  from  court,  and  prepared  to 
deliver  themselves  from  the  oppression  of  the  favourite;  and 
the  public  discontent  was  increased,  by  the  promotion  of  the 
bishop  of  Lugon,  afterwards  the  celebrated  cardinal  Richelieu. 

Rut  Conchini  at  length  forged  the  weapon  of  his 
own  destruction;  and  drew  down,  upon  his  own  head, 
the  ruin  which  he  designed  should  fall  upon  his  enemies. 
He  had  placed  about  the  person  of  the  king,  a young  gentle- 
man, named  Luines;  who  insinuated  himself  into  the  favour 
and  confidence  of  Louis,  by  the  industry  with  which  he 
planned,  and  the  zeal  with  which  he  partook  of  his  childish 
amusements;  but,  while  the  new  favourite  seemed  occupied 
in  sports  and  pleasures — one  day  with  the  hawks,  another 
with  the  hounds — he,  in  private,  nourished  an  ambition, 
above  his  rank  and  station.  The  marquis  had  repulsed,  with 
contempt,  his  offer  of  alliance,  by  uniting  his  brother  to  the 
niece  or  Ancre;  and  Luines,  not  insensible  of  the  suspicious 
disposition  of  the  crafty  Florentine,  determined  to  provide 
for  his  own  safety,  by  the  destruction  of  a man,  whom,  from 
that  moment,  he  considered  as  his  implacable  enemy.  He 
impressed  Louis  with  a lively  dread  of  the  aspiring  Italian; 
and  the  young  king  at  length  imparted  his  resolution  to 
achieve  his  own  deliverance,  and  to  extinguish  the  flames 
of  civil  discord,  by  Conchini’s  death.  On  the  morning 
fixed  for  his  destruction,  the  latter  had  entered  the  Lou  vie, 
surrounded  by  forty  gentlemen,  who  were  indebted  to  his 
liberality  for  their  support;  he  was  earnestly  engaged  in 
reading  a letter,  when  Vitri,  the  captain  of  the  guards,  ap- 
peared, and  arrested  him,  in  the  name  of  the  king.  Ancre 
laid  his  hand  upon  his  sword:  this  mark  of  resistance,  was 
the  signal  for  his  destruction:  the  command  of  Vitri,  to  kill 
nim,  was  instantly  obeyed;  and  three  pistols,  discharged, 
with  unerring  aim,  brought  him,  lifeless,  to  the  ground. 

The  offended  pride  of  Luines  was  not  satisfied,  by  the 
death  of  Conchini.  The  unfortunate  Leonora  was  instantly 
secured.  A judicial  process  commenced  against  her;  she  was 
charged  with  sorcery,  and  expiated,  with  her  life,  this  ima- 


206 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


ginary  crime.  Being  asked,  by  what  magical  spell,  she  had 
fascinated  the  queen-mother,  she  replied — “By  that  supe- 
riority, which  a strong  mind  has  always,  over  a weak  one.” 
In  the  history  of  another  kingdom,  we  meet  with  an  inci- 
dent, similarly  fatal,  and  arising  from  the  same  cause.  The 
influence  exercised  over  the  queen-mother,  by  these  Italians, 
the  consequent  jealousy  of  Louis,  and  the  assassination  of 
Conchini,  remind  us  of  the  tragical  effect  of  that  confidence, 
which  was  so  indecorously  extended,  just  half  a century 
before,  to  Rizzio,  by  Mary  queen  of  Scots. 

The  destruction  of  her  favourites,  was  attended  by  the 
disgrace  of  the  queen-mother  herself.  Deprived  of  her 
guards,  and  divested  of  the  insignia  of  royalty,  she  was  per- 
mitted to  retire  to  Blois:  the  power  which  had  been  exercised 
by  Conchini,  was  transferred  to  Luines,  with  the  title  of 
duke;  and  the  bishop  of  Lucon  was  compelled  to  resign  the 
office  of  secretary  of  state. 

16^0  Uncommon  energy  was  displayed,  by  Louis,  in  the 
numerous  military  operations,  in  which  he  was  en- 
gaged, against  his  rebellious  subjects.  The  Hugonots  were 
not  the  only  party  that  drew  forth  the  vigour  of  his  arms; 
though,  by  the  suppression  of  the  protestant  religion,  in  the 
province  of  Bearne,  where  it  had  exclusively  prevailed  for  a 
period  of  fifty  years,  the  inhabitants  of  that  quarter  had  the 
strongest  provocation  for  declaring  war  against  their  sovereign. 

A timely  death  preserved  Luines  from  experiencing  upon 
how  sandy  a foundation  he  had  raised  the  edifice  of  his 
political  greatness.  At  the  head  of  his  councils,  the  king 
now  placed  the  cardinal  de  Retz  and  the  count  of  Schom- 
berg;  and,  on  the  death  of  the  cardinal,  he  was  pre- 
vailed on  to  introduce  into  his  councils  the  bishop  of 
Lucon,  now  known  as  the  cardinal  Richelieu;  a man  des- 
tined to  restore  the  grandeur  of  France,  and  to  establish  a 
new  epoch  in  the  reign  of  Louis. 

66  Born,”  says  an  elegant  historian,  “to  steer  the  vessel 
of  state  amidst  storms  and  quicksands,  the  political  talents 
of  the  cardinal  Richelieu,  have,  to  the  present  moment, 
extorted  the  praise  and  admiration  of  posterity.  Frequently 
successful,  and  always  great,  in  his  designs,  he  rose,  with 
accumulated  strength,  from  defeat;  and  the  ambitious  pre- 
late had  no  sooner  exchanged  the  crozier  for  the  seals,  than 
his  open  and  secret  enemies  were  ovewhelmed,  by  the  tor- 
rent of  his  ambition.  During  eighteen  years,  he  maintained 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


207 


his  ascendancy,  over  the  jealous  mind  of  his  sovereign:  the 
reformed,  who  had  triumphed  over  the  artifices  of  Catherine 
of  Medicis,  and  the  dark  rage  of  Charles  IX.,  were  broken, 
by  his  invincible  arm;  and  the  house  of  Austria,  defeated 
and  depressed,  was  forced  to  yield,  to  his  superior  fortune, 
that  which  the  valour  and  virtues  of  Francis  I.,  and  Henry 
IV.,  had  in  vain  attempted.” 

His  rivals  in  the  cabinent  were  the  first  victims  of  the 
arts  of  Richelieu;  and,  no  sooner  had  he  established  his  au- 
thority at  home,  than  he  prepared  to  extend  the  terror  of 
his  name  abroad.  His  admission  into  the  conclave,  had  not 
served  to  inspire  him  with  either  zeal  or  awe  for  the  court 
of  Rome;  and  his  contempt  for  the  successor  of  St.  Peter, 
was  displayed  in  his  instructions  to  expel  the  papal  forces 
from  the  Valteiine. 

Transactions  which  arose  out  of  a matrimonial  connexion 
with  the  court  of  England,  are  not  the  least  interesting- 
events,  in  the  reign  of  Louis.  Considering  every  alliance 
below  that  of  a king,  as  unworthy  the  prince  of  Wales, 
James  I.  determined  never  to  bestow  the  hand  of  his  son 
Charles,  except  on  a daughter  of  France  or  Spain.  With 
the  latter  court,  his  ambassador  had  opened  a negotiation; 
but,  when  all  measures  were  agreed  upon,  the  connexion 
was  broken,  by  a romantic  enterprise,  originally  conceived 
with  the  idea  of  hastening  the  proposed  alliance. 

George  Villiers,  from  an  obscure  condition,  had  been 
elevated,  by  James,  to  the  rank  and  title  of  duke  of  Buck- 
ingham; and,  to  ingratiate  himself  with  the  son,  he  proposed 
to  the  prince  of  Wales,  to  break  through  the  forms  usually 
observed  by  the  heirs  of  royalty;  and,  passing  in  disguise, 
to  Madrid,  to  introduce  himself,  to  the  Infanta,  as  an  ardent 
and  devoted  lover.  Charles  relished  the  gallantry  of  the 
proposal;  a reluctant  consent  was  extorted  from  his  father; 
and  the  prince  of  Wales,  accompanied  by  Buckingham, 
privately  set  out  from  London,  and  crossed  over  to  Calais: 
they  had  even  the  temerity,  in  their  journey,  to  visit  the 
French  court,  in  disguise;  where  the  charms  of  the  princess 
Henrietta,  the  sister  of  Louis,  made  a deep  impression  on 
the  heart  of  the  youthful  prince. 

But  the  volatile  manners  and  dissolute  pleasures  of  the 
duke  of  Buckingham,  ill  accorded  with  the  gravity  of  the 
Spanish  court.  He  determined  to  return,  without  accom- 
plishing the  object  of  his  journey:  the  delay  of  the  dispen- 


208 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


sation  from  Rome,  afforded  a decent  pretence  ; and  imme- 
diately on  their  arrival  in  England,  the  duke  prevailed  upon 
the  flexible  king  and  prince,  to  break  off  the  negotiation. 
1625  Nothing  now  remained,  but  an  alliance  with  France. 

The  earls  of  Holland  and  Carlisle  were  sent  over,  on 
this  occasion,  as  ambassadors  ; and,  though  the  portion  of 
Henrietta  was  much  inferior  to  that  of  the  Infanta,  yet  the 
superior  address  of  Richelieu  extorted  the  same  terms,  for 
Louis,  as  had  been  granted  to  the  king  of  Spain  ; and  Buck- 
ingham v/ as  despatched  to  Paris,  to  escort  the  bride  to  her 
royal  consort ; who,  by  the  death  of  his  father,  James,  had 
ascended  the  throne  of  England,  as  Charles  I. 

But  the  near  alliance  of  France,  with  a protestant  king, 
did  not  deter  the  cardinal  from  nourishing  the  most  fatal 
designs  against  the  reformed  religion.  A treaty  lately  en- 
tered into,  with  the  Hugonots,  had  been  infringed,  by  the 
introduction  of  a royal  garrison  into  Montpelier ; their  re- 
monstrances had  been  disregarded  or  evaded,  by  the  court ; 
and  a new  subject  of  discontent  arose,  from  a royal  fleet, 
stationed  at  L’ Orient,  to  guard  and  block  up  the  harbour 
of  Rochelle.  A desultory  war  commenced.  The  Rochellers 
were  defeated,  at  sea,  by  the  united  squadrons  of  France 
and  England  : but  the  loss  of  the  confederates,  in  the  action, 
prevented  them  from  improving  their  advantage.  The  cla- 
mours of  the  English,  compelled  their  sovereign  to  interfere  : 
the  mediation  of  the  consort  of  Henrietta,  was  listened  to, 
with  respect ; a peace  was,  at  length,  concluded,  which  con- 
firmed the  edict  of  Nantz;  and  Louis  consented  that  his 
brother-in-law  should  guarantee,  to  the  protestants,  the 
articles  of  peace. 

Little  confidence  can  be  placed  in  the  stipulations 
of  kings.  The  latter  treaty  was  not  more  faithfully 
observed,  by  Louis,  than  the  former.  Nor  is  it  probable, 
that  the  pledge  given,  by  Charles,  for  its  performance, 
would  have  been  redeemed,  in  favour  of  the  Hugonots,  but 
for  the  intervention  of  an  incident,  entirely  unconnected 
with  the  public.  When  despatched  to  the  court  of  Paris, 
for  the  purpose  of  conducting  the  princess  Henrietta  to  Eng- 
land, the  duke  of  Buckingham  had  entertained  a guilty  pas- 
sion for  the  queen  of  France  ; and,  in  a private  visit,  was 
received  by  her  with  a reproof,  that  savoured  more  of  kind- 
ness, than  of  anger.  But,  his  presumption  had  not  escaped 
the  observation  of  the  cardinal ; whose  vigilance,  on  this  on 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


209 


casion,  was  excited,  it  is  supposed,  by  an  interest,  not 
altogether  consistent  with  his  fidelity  to  his  master,  or  his 
vows  as  a Roman  Catholic  priest:  on  the  preparation  of 
Buckingham,  for  a second  embassy  to  Paris,  he  was  inform- 
ed, by  a message  from  Louis,  that  he  must  not  think  of 
such  a journey;  and,  although  the  duke  reluctantly  aban- 
doned the  design  of  proceeding,  as  an  ambassador,  he  swore 
that  he  would  see  the  queen,  in  spite  of  all  the  power  of 
France;  and,  ever  afterwards,  cherished  a deep  resent- 
ment against  Richelieu;  to  whose  suggestions,  he  imputed 
his  disappointment. 

1628  Charles  lent  a willing  ear  to  the  wishes  of  his  fa- 
vourite. Before  the  mighty  preparations  of  Riche- 
lieu, against  Rochelle,  could  be  completed,  an  English  fleet 
of  one-hundred  sail,  and  an  army  of  seven-thousand  men, 
were  equipped,  for  the  invasion  of  France.  But,  so  ill  con- 
certed were  the  measures  of  the  duke,  that  the  English  were 
repulsed,  in  repeated  attacks;  and  Buckingham  himself,  af- 
ter the  loss  of  two-thirds  of  his  land  troops,  found  it  neces- 
sary to  make  a precipitate  retreat. 

To  efface  the  dishonour  of  the  English  arms,  the  duke  of 
Buckingham  determined  to  head  another  expedition  against 
the  French;  but,  while  he  hastened  the  preparations,  at 
Portsmouth,  he  was  assassinated,  by  one  Felton;  who  had 
served  the  duke  as  a lieutenant,  but  had  been  disappointed 
in  receiving  an  advance  in  rank. 

The  retreat  of  Buckingham  was  the  signal  for  action,  to 
Richlieu.  The  army  assembled  by  him,  was  commanded 
by  the  king,  in  person,  and  animated  by  the  presence  of  the 
most  distinguished  nobles.  The  cardinal  aspired  to  the 
reputation  of  a soldier,  as  well  as  of  a statesman.  He  plan- 
ned the  lines  of  circumvallation,  designed  the  different  forts, 
and  directed  the  attacks.  To  deprive  the  besieged  of  all 
succour,  he  formed  a project,  which  rivals  the  mighty  work 
of  Alexander  the  Great,  when  besieging  Tyre — that  of 
throwing  across  the  harbour  of  Rochelle,  a mole,  of  a miie 
in  extent.  He  at  length  beheld  the  stupendous  work  com- 
pleted, and  enabled  to  defy  all  the  efforts  of  the  English 
fleet.  In  vain,  did  the  earl  of  Lindsay  endeavour  to  force 
his  way  into  the  harbour.  The  mole  resisted  and  repelled 
the  weight  of  his  attacks;  and,  hopeless  of  success,  he 
abandoned  the  city  to  despair,  and  returned  to  England. 
The  last  spark  of  enthusiasm,  which  had  so  long  inspirited 


210 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


the  miserable  inhabitants  of  that  city,  expired  with  his  re- 
treat. While  yet  his  sails  were  in  sight,  they  consented  to 
surrender,  at  discretion;  and  some  idea  may  be  formed  of 
the  miseries  they  had  endured,  since,  of  fifteen-thousand 
persons  originally  shut  up  in  Rochelle,  four-thousand  were 
ail  that  now  remained. 

The  fortune  of  the  cardinal  was  conspicuous,  in  the  mo- 
ment of  submission.  Scarcely  had  the  citizens  opened  their 
gates,  before  a tempest  agitated  the  ocean,  so  violently,  as 
to  bury,  in  the  waves,  the  proud  structure  that  he  had  plan- 
ned. Had  the  inhabitants  persevered  only  a few  hours 
longer,  the  fury  of  the  storm  would  have  overwhelmed  the 
pride  of  the  cardinal,  and  preserved  their  freedom. 

Until  the  reduction  of  Rochelle,  the  protestants  of  France 
had  formed  a sort  of  imperium  in  imperio ; but,  after  that 
event,  they  no  longer  constituted  a distinct  body  in  the 
state. 

162Q  Undismayed,  however,  by  the  reduction  of  Ro- 
chelle, the  duke  of  Rohan  still  displayed  the  banner 
of  revolt,  in  Guienne  and  Languedoc,  and  the  mountains  of 
the  Cevennes.  Nismes,  Montauban,  Castres,  Privas,  and 
Alais,  still  professed  the  principles  of  the  reformed,  and  de- 
clared their  resolution  to  seal  their  faith  with  their  blood. 
The  king  assaulted  the  walls  of  Privas,  compelled  the  go- 
vernor to  surrender  at  discretion,  and  devoted  the  inhabit- 
ants, without  exception  of  age  or  sex,  to  the  sword. 

The  next  grand  object  of  cardinal  Richelieu,  was  to  cur- 
tail the  Austrian  power.  With  this  view,  he  supported  the 
protestants  of  Germany,  after  having  reduced  those  of 
France;  and,  a treaty  of  alliance  was  concluded  with  Sweden, 
for  the  purpose  of  humbling  the  emperor.  The  celebrated 
Gustavus  Adolphus  entered  the  field,  at  the  head  of  thirty- 
thousand  men;  and  Louis  supplied  him  with  money,  to  en- 
able him  to  carry  the  war  into  the  heart  of  Germany.  On 
the  sixteenth  of  November,  the  Swedish  monarch 

° was  killed,  at  the  battle  of  Lutzen;  but  the  treaty 
was  renewed  with  his  daughter  and  successor,  the  renowned 
Christiana. 

While  hostilities  in  Germany  were  prosecuted,  with  great 
success,  by  the  Swedish  generals  Torstenson,  Bannier,  the 
duke  of  Saxe  Weimar,  and  other  warriors  of  note,  Louis 
declared  war  against  Spain.  This  measure  was  in  perfect 
Vnformity  with  the  views  of  Richelieu;  whose  object  was, 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


211 


to  humble  both  branches  of  the  house  of  Austria.  The  war 
continued  thirteen  years  against  the  emperor,  and  twenty- 
five  against  Spain;  and  neither  the  king  of  France,  nor  his 
1636  m^nis^er?  lived  to  see  its  termination.  In  the  second 
campaign,  the  near  approach  of  the  Spanish  army, 
from  the  Netherlands,  caused  great  consternation,  in  Paris; 
but  the  duke  of  Orleans,  only  surviving  brother  of  the  king, 
obliged  the  enemy  to  repass  the  Somme. 

It  would  be  equally  tedious  and  unprofitable,  to  narrate 
the  various  conspiracies  and  revolts  of  the  nobles,  against 
the  minister.  Amongst  those  who  fell,  by  the  hands  of 
the  executioner,  the  most  distinguished  were  the  marshal 
de  Mariilac,  Henry  de  Montmorenci,  a duke  and  marshal 
of  France,  the  marquis  of  Cinq-Mars,  and  a son  of  the 
1642  celekrate(l  historian,  M.  de  Thou.  The  morning  on 
which  the  two  latter  lost  their  heads,  brought  intelli- 
gence of  the  surrender  of  Perpignan;  and  Richelieu  ap- 
prized the  king  of  both  events,  by  a single  and  expressive 
line — “Your  troops  are  in  Perpignan,  and  your  enemies  in 
the  grave.” 

But  the  grave  was,  at  this  time,  yawning,  to  receive  the 
cardinal  himself.  Exhausted  in  body,  yet  still  vigorous  in 
mind,  he  closed  his  career,  at  Paris,  in  the  fifty-ninth  year 
of  his  age;  with  a fortitude  and  serenity  that  astonished 
those  who  had  beheld  the  sanguinary  effects  of  his  adminis- 
tration. 

Three  mighty  achievements  signalized  the  period  of  his  go- 
vernment. He  humbled  the  turbulent  spirits  of  the  great; 
he  subdued  the  stubborn  zeal  of  the  Hugonots;  and  curbed 
the  encroaching  power  of  the  house  of  Austria. 

To  his  patronage,  the  “Academie  Francaise,”  owes  its 
institution;  and  the  French  language  that  refinement  which 
has  contributed,  in  no  small  degree,  to  render  it  a general 
vehicle  of  communication,  throughout  Europe. 

Louis  now  endeavoured  to  manage  the  affairs  of 
state,  himself.  Mazarin,  for  whom  the  late  minister 
had  obtained  a cardinal’s  hat,  was,  indeed,  introduced  into 
the  council;  but  the  only  change  that  appeared,  in  public 
measures,  was  the  recalling  from  banishment,  and  releasing 
from  confinement,  the  most  illustrious  objects  of  Richelieu’s 
jealousy  or  resentment. 

The  war  was  still  prosecuted  with  vigour:  but  the  suc- 
cess of  the  royal  arms  could  not  check  the  progress  of  dis- 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


212 

ease.  Louis -had  now  reached  the  goal  of  his  mortal  race, 
and  expired,  with  firm  composure  and  resignation,  in  the 
forty-second  year  of  his  age,  and  on  the  very  day  in  which 
he  had  completed  the  thirty -third  of  his  reign. 

It  is  not  easy  to  estimate  the  character  of  Louis.  He  pos- 
sessed activity  and  enterprise;  his  personal  courage  shone 
forth  with  superior  lustre;  but,  though  he  obtained  the  epi- 
thet of  Just,  he  was  frequently  severe  as  a magistrate,  and 
cruel  in  the  field. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

LOUIS  XIV. 

1643—1715. 

LOUIS  the  Fourteenth,  son  of  the  late  king,  had  not  yet 
completed  his  fifth  year.  The  will  of  his  father,  by  which 
a council  of  regency  had  been  appointed,  to  administer  the 
royal  functions,  until  the  infant  sovereign  should  have 
reached  the  age  of  fourteen,  was  instantly  rejected,  by  the 
parliament;  and  his  widow,'  Anne  of  Austria,  was  invested 
with  uniimited  power.  She  soon  resigned  herself  to  the  in- 
fluence of  cardinal  Mazarin;  a native  of  the  little  town  of 
Piscina,  in  Italy;  whose  political  knowledge  and  address, 
had  introduced  him  to  the  confidence  of  Richelieu;  and  who 
now  acquired  that  ascendancy  over  the  mind  of  his  royal 
mistress,  that  Richelieu  had  obtained  over  her  deceased  con- 
sort. Mazarin  had  a fine  person,  an  easy  and  insinuating 
address,  was  possessed  of  every  polite  accomplishment,  had 
an  air  of  courtesy  and  kindness,  was  an  able  statesman  and 
a finished  courtier;  but,  in  respect  to  virtue,  honour,  pro- 
bity, or  regard  for  the  people,  he  neither  pretended  to  them 
himself,  nor  were  they  attributed  to  him,  by  others. 

The  circumstances  of  Europe  were  favourable  to  the 
designs  of  France.  Portugal  had  shaken  off  the  Spanish 
yoke,  and  established  the  duke  of  Braganza,  as  John  IV., 
upon  the  throne;  the  Catalonians  still  displayed  the  banners 
of  revolt;  the  United  Provinces  had  been  cherished  and 
protected  by  Henry  IV.  and  Louis  XIII. ; the  sceptre  of 
Sweden  was  still  in  the  hands  of  Christiana,  whose  generals 
maintained  a successful  war  against  the  emperor  of  Ger- 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


213 


many;  while,  in  Great  Britain,  Charles  I.,  inheriting  his 
father’s  lofty  ideas  of  prerogative,  had  kindled  the  flame  of 
civil  war,  throughout  that  island. 

The  Spanish  infantry,  hitherto  deemed  invincible,  was 
defeated  at  Rocroy,  on  the  frontiers  of  Flanders,  by  Louis 
of  Bourbon,  duke  d’Enghien,  son  to  the  prince  of  Conde; 
and  the  same  general  soon  afterwards  took  Thionville,  on 
the  banks  of  the  Mozelle;  routed  the  imperial  army,  at 
Fribourg;  and  swept,  with  his  victorious  troops,  Fhilipsburg 
and  Metz,  Gppenheim  and  Worms,  with  the  several  forts 
along  the  Rhine.  But,  his  splendid  career  of  glory,  instead 
1647  exc^ng  the  gratitude,  had  awakened  the  jealousy 
of  the  court;  and,  by  the  envy  of  Mazarin,  he  was 
detached  into  Catalonia,  with  a feeble  and  ill  -provided  army. 
The  death  of  his  father,  had  devolved  upon  him  the  title  of 
prince  of  Conde,  and  the  admiration  of  the  public  had  at- 
tached to  it  the  epithet  of  Great:  but,  his  slender  force 
allowed  him  not,  on  that  theatre,  to  rival  his  former  actions; 
and  he  was  compelled  to  retire  from  the  walls  of  Lerida, 
which  had  previously  been  assaulted  by  the  marshal  de  la 
Mothe  Haudancourt,  and  the  count  de  Grammont. 

In  Flanders,  the  duke  of  Orleans  reduced.  Gra- 
velines, Mardyke,  and  Courtray;  and  in  Germany, 
marshal  Turenne — the  greatest  military  leader  of  that  time 
— in  conjunction  with  the  Swedes,  defeated  the  imperial 
generals,  Montecuculli  and  Melander.  His  success  in- 
fluenced Spain  to  acknowledge  the  United  Provinces,  as 
free  and  independent  states;  and,  by  a second  treaty,  sub- 
scribed at  Munster,  the  emperor,  alarmed  at  the  progress 
of  the  Swedes,  consented  to  purchase  peace,  by  ceding,  to 
France,  the  bishoprics  of  Metz,  Toul,  and  Verdun,  with  his 
pretensions  to  Pignerol,  Brisac,  and  Alsace. 

But  the  power  and  glory  of  France  were,  in  the  mean 
time,  shaken  to  their  foundation,  by  the  rage  of  contending 
factions.  The  administration  of  Mazarin,  was  far  from 
being  acceptable  to  the  public.  As  a foreigner,  they  regard- 
ed him  with  jealousy;  and  the  heavy  taxes  which  he  imposed, 
converted  that  jealousy  into  hatred.  The  parliament  of 
Paris  made  a stand  against  his  requisitions,  similar  to  that, 
which,  in  the  following  century,  hurled  the  misguided 
Bourbons  from  the  throne.  That  body  refused  to  sanction, 
by  a registry,  the  edicts  for  the  new  imposts;  and  the  court,, 
to  enforce  its  authority,  arrested  Blancmenil,  the  president. 


214 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


and  the  counsellor  Broussell.  This  tyrannical  step  was  the 
signal  of  instant  sedition:  all  Paris  rose  in  arms;  and  the 
queen,  to  secure  her  own  safety,  ordered  the  prisoners  to 
be  released. 

The  regent  and  her  minister  did  not  feel  secure, 
at  Paris.  They  escaped,  with  the  infant  king,  to  the 
royal  palace,  at  St.  Germains;  whither,  they  werp  accom- 
panied by  the  duke  of  Orleans;  and  the  queen  summoned  to 
her  defence,  the  prince  of  Conde.  The  adverse  faction, 
who  assumed  the  name  of  the  Fronde , and  maintained  pos- 
session of  the  capital,  were  inspired  by  the  intriguing  spirit 
of  the  cardinal  de  Retz;  and  headed  by  the  prince  of  Conti, 
brother  of  the  prince  of  Conde,  aided  by  the  dukes  of  Lon- 
gueville,  Bouillon,  and  Beaufort. 

But  the  court  was  still  formidable,  from  the  high  reputa- 
tion of  the  prince  of  Conde.  With  an  army  of  scarcely 
eight- thousand  soldiers,  he  blocked  up  a city  containing 
half  a million  of  inhabitants;  and,  though  Turenne  was  al- 
lured by  the  charms  of  the  dutches?  of  Longueville,  to  em- 
brace the  party  of  the  Fronde,  yet  his  military  talents  availed 
him  little,  when  seconded  only  by  a tumultuous  mob.  A 
cessapon  of  hostilities  was  at  length  arranged.  The  leaders, 
on  each  side,  having  obtained  the  particular  object  of  their 
avarice  or  ambition,  the  public  good  was  buried  in  studied 
silence;  the  storm  was,  for  a moment,  hushed,  and  the  court 
returned  to  the  deserted  capital. 

England  was,  in  the  mean  time,  most  violently  afflicted. 
Charles  I.  had  expired  on  the  scaffold,  his  children  were 
driven  into  exile,  and  Cromwell,  having  usurped  the  regal 
power,  under  the  title  of  protector,  ruled  the  country  with 
absolute  sway. 

The  calm  which  had  followed  the  popular  tempest,  in 
Paris,  was  deceitful.  The  citizens  again  resumed  their 
arms,  and  turned  their  swords  against  each  other.  The 
prince  of  Conde  and  his  brother  were  suddenly  arrested, 
by  the  orders  of  Mazarin,  and  confined  in  prison,  until  that 
minister  was  compelled  to  release  them. 

Louis  had  now  attained  the  age  fixed  for  his  as- 
suming the  reins  of  government;  but  he  was  still 
influenced  by  the  councils  of  his  mother,  and  seemed  to  in- 
herit her  fond  partiality  for  Mazarin.  Sensible  of  the  im- 
placable resentment  of  the  queen,  the  prince  of  Conde  re- 
tired from  Paris,  to  arm,  in  his  support,  the  provinces  of 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


£1 S 


Guienne,  Poictou,  and  Anjou;  and  allied  himself  with  the 
Spaniards,  the  very  people,  on  whose  defeat,  he  had  found- 
ed his  martial  glory. 

The  civii  war  between  the  two  powerful  factions, 
* was  continued,  with  various  success.  The  military 
operations  of  Louis,  against  his  foreign  enemies,  were  more 
decidedly  in  his  favour.  Landreci  and  Quesnoi  were  re- 
duced, by  marshal  Turenne;  and  a road  was  thus  opened 
into  the  Spanish  Netherlands.  The  king,  in  person,  beheld 
the  successful  siege  of  St.  Guillain;  the  Spaniards  were  com- 
pelled, by  the  marquis  Merinville,  to  retire  from  the  walls 
of  Solsonna,  and  their  fleet  was  defeated,  before  Barcelona, 
by  the  duke  of  Vendome. 

But  even  these  victories  afforded  less  satisfaction  to  Ma- 
zarin,  than  a treaty,  soon  afterwards  concluded  by  him,  with 
the  protector  of  England.  This  energetic  statesman  was 
equally  courted  and  dreaded,  by  all  Europe.  Never  had 
England  been  more  formidable,  than  under  the  government 
of  Cromwell.  But  Louis  purchased  his  alliance  by  a conces- 
sion, most  unhospitable  and  ignominious;  which  the  mag- 
nanimity of  his  maturer  years,  would  have  disdained;  and 
which  must  solely  be  imputed  to  the  more  subtle  and  less 
honourable  policy  of  his  Italian  minister.  Charles  IT.,  and 
his  brother,  the  duke  of  York,  both  sons  of  the  late  unfor- 
tunate king  of  England,  and  consequently  the  grandsons 
of  Henry  IV.  of  France,  and  cousins  of  Louis  himself,  were 
compelled,  by  the  imperious  voice  of  Cromwell,  to  quit  the 
latter  kingdom,  and  seek  an  asylum  in  the  dominions  of 
Spain. 

1658  While  the  honour  of  France,  however,  was  thus 
tarnished,  by  withdrawing  her  protection  from  the 
unhappy  strangers,  the  advantage  accruing  to  her  arms,  was 
not  only  brilliant,  but  important.  Though  Turenne  expe- 
rienced a reverse  of  fortune,  before  Valenciennes,  yet,  aided 
by  an  English  fleet,  and  six-thousand  infantry  of  that  nation, 
he  obtained  the  surrender  of  Dunkirk;  but  Louis  had  no 
sooner  entered,  in  triumph,  the  prostrate  city,  than  he  was 
compelled  to  deliver  it  to  Lockhart,  the  ambassador  of 
Cromwell. 

This  was  the  last  acquisition  of  tire  Protector.  His  dying 
breath  bequeathed  his  power  to  his  eldest  son  Richard;  who 
was  acknowledged  as  the  executive  magistrate,  of  England, 
by  the  court  of  France. 


216 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


On  the  surrender  of  Dunkirk,  marshal  Turenne  turned 
his  arms  against  Furnes  and  Dixmude,  which  soon  yielded 
to  his  impetuous  assaults;  as  did  also  Oudenarde  and  Menin, 
1659  Gh’avehnes  and  Ypres.  The  rigour  of  winter  at 
length  paralysed  the  hand  of  war.  Spain  had  now 
become  alarmed,  by  the  losses’  of  the  previous  campaign; 
and  France  was,  for  the  present,  satisfied  with  conquest. 
The  belligerents  agreed  upon  a cessation  of  arms:  and,  in 
the  isle  of  Pheasants,  on  the  frontiers  of  the  two  kingdoms, 
Mazarin  and  Don  Louis  de  Haro,  appeared,  as  the  repre- 
sentatives of  their  respective  sovereigns.  At  the  end  of  four 
months,  the'  conferences  were  ended,  and  a war  of  twenty- 
five  years, concluded,  by  the  celebrated  treaty  of  the  Py- 
renees. Philip  made  several  concessions:  Louis  was  to 
receive  the  hand  of  the  Infanta,  with  half  a million  of  gold 
crowns;  Alsace  and  Rousillon  were  confirmed  to  him;  but 
he  solemnly  renounced  every  succession  that  might  acrue 
to  him,  in  right  of  his  consort: — a renunciation  to  which  he 
afterwards  paid  not  the  smallest  regard: — to  Germany,  he 
restored  the  dutchy  of  Lorraine;  to  Spain,  the  cities  of  St. 
Omer,  Ypres,  Menin,  and  Oudenarde;  and  he  consented  to 
pardon  the  prince  of  Conde. 

In  the  following  year,  a most  unexpected  revolu- 
0 tion  occurred,  in  England.  Richard  Cromwell, 
having  signed  his  own  dismission,  and  retired  to  enjoy  the 
quiet  of  a private  life;  by  the  prompt  and  able  management 
of  general  Monk,  Charles  II.,  a hopeless  exile  from  his 
native  country,  was  placed  upon  the  throne. 

~~  A treaty  at  Vincennes,  with  the  duke  of  Lorraine, 
° * was  the  last  act  of  cardinal  Mazarin.  Nine  days 
afterwards,  he  expired. 

The  administration  and  talents  of  Mazarin,  have  been 
compared  with  those  of  Richelieu;  but,  for  the  energetic 
features  which  distinguished  the  latter,  we  in  vain  seek,  in 
his  successor.  Prudent,  subtle,  and  avaricious,  he  endea- 
voured rather  to  sooth,  than  to  command;  to  deceive,  than 
to  vanquish;  and  the  love  of  glory  either  existed  not  in  his 
bosom,  or  was  lost  in  his  insatiate  thirst  for  gold. 

On  the  death  of  Mazarin,  a new  era  commenced,  in  the 
government  of  France.  Louis  XIV.,  now  in  his  twenty -third 
vear,  prepared  to  throw  off  those  shackles,  which  the  ascend- 
ancy of  his  minister  had  imposed;  and  hereafter  to  assume, 
not  only  the  ensigns  of  royalty,  but  the  duties  of  a king. 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


21 7 

His  resolution  once  formed,  he  maintained  it  to  the  last 
moment  of  his  life.  He  appointed  bounds  to  the  power  of 
all  his  ministers;  obliged  them  to  give  an  account  of  every 
thing,  at  certain  hours;  restored  order  to  the  finances,  and 
established  discipline  amongst  the  troops. 

The  security  of  his  kingdom  was  augmented,  by  the  pur- 
chase of  Dunkirk.  Charles  II.  was  reduced,  by  his  pro- 
fusion, to  the  necessity  of  parting  with  that  important  place; 
and  Louis  obtained  it,"  for  the  sum  of  fiuu’-hund red-thousand 
pounds.  The  interval  of  peace  was  employed,  by  the  French 
monarch.,  in  preparations  for  a success! ul  war.  In  the 
silent  lapse  of  six  years,  he  had  replenished  his  coffers,  cre- 
ated a naval  force,  augmented  his  armies,  and  provided  an 
immense  quantity  of  military  stores.  The  two  ministers,  who 
principally  shared  his  confidence,  were  Colbert  and  Lou- 
vois.  The  former,  in  the  finances,  rivalled  the  fame  and 
abilities  of  the  duke  of  Sully:  the  latter  first  displayed 
to  Europe  the  means  of  subsisting  large  armies,  at  a distance, 
by  magazines. 

Under  the  administration  of  Colbert,  commerce  began  to 
flourish,  the  arts  were  patronised,  industry  was  every  where 
encouraged,  the  academies  of  painting,  of  sculpture,  and  of 
the  sciences,  were  instituted,  to  improve  the  national  taste; 
and  the  learned  of  foreign  nations,  found  in  Louis,  and  in  his 
virtuous  minister,  a liberal  friend.  As  superintendant  of 
the  public  buildings,  he  improved  and  embellished  the  capital; 
and,  by  erecting  the  noble  palaces  of  the  Tuileries,  Ver- 
sailles, the  Louvre,  and  Fontainbleau,  he  contributed  to  the 
comfort  of  the  monarch,  and  to  the  honour  of  the  nation. 
He  likewise  promoted  the  Languedoc  canal,  by  which,  after 
fourteen  years,  incessant  labour,  the  two  seas  were  united; 
and  introduced  a severe  reform  in  the  courts  of  justice. 

16G8  The  death  °f  the  queen -mother,  who  no  longer  re- 
tained her  influence  on  the  mind  of  her  son,  was  an 
event  of  less  moment,  than  the  decease  of  Philip  II.,  of 
Spain.  He  left  a son,  Charles  II.:  but  the  queen  of  France, 
the  issue  of  a former  marriage,  claimed  a considerable  pro- 
vince of  the  Spanish  monarchy,  even  to  the  exclusion  of  his 
brother.  By  the  custom  of  some  parts  of  Brabant,  a female 
of  a first  marriage,  is  preferred  to  a male  of  a seqond;  and 
Louis,  in  open  violation  of  his  renunciation  in  the  "treaty  of 
the  Pyrenees,  prepared  to  vindicate  the  claim  of  Ids  consort, 
by  the  sword. 

T 


213 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


With  an  army  of  forty  thousand  men,  directed  by  Tu- 
renne,  he  burst  into  the  defenceless  province  of  Flanders. 
Destitute  of  magazines  or  fortifications,  and  of  garrisons 
the  towns  surrendered  to  Louis,  without  resistance.  But, 
his  rapid  progress  awakened  the  envy  and  the  fears  of  his 
powerful  neighbours.  A triple  league  was  formed,  by  Eng- 
land, Holland,  and  Sweden,  to  prescribe  bounds  to  his  am- 
bition. A negotiation  was  soon  commenced,  and  rapidly 
concluded.  By  the  peace  of  Aix  -la-Chapelle,  Louis  re- 
tained his  acquisitions  in  Flanders,  but  restored  Franche 
Compte,  to  Spain;  and,  though  by  these  conditions,  he  gain- 
ed an  extensive  territory,  fruitful  and  populous,  yet  he  ever 
afterwards  harboured  an  implacable  resentment  against  the 
states  of  Holland;  whose  deputies  had  displayed,  at  the  con- 
gress, an  independent  and  inflexible  spirit,  which  ill  ac- 
corded with  his  lofty  conceptions  of  the  deference  due  to 
royal  power. 

^ ~7n  Louis  soon  prepared  to  gratify  his  revenge.  His 
attention  was  first  directed  to  increase  his  naval 
force;  then,  to  detach  the  king  of  England  from  his  alli- 
ance with  the  Dutch.  The  latter  was  not  difficult  to  ac- 
complish. The  brother  of  the  French  king,  the  duke  of 
Orleans,  had  married  the  sister  of  Charles,  and  the  influ- 
ence of  that  princess  was  exerted  over  the  mind  of  the  Eng- 
lish monarch.  But  Louis  well  knew  Charles’s  character, 
and  the  usual  fluctuation  of  his  counsels.  In  order  to  fix 
him  in  the  French  interests,  he  resolved  to  bind  him  by  the 
ties  of  pleasure;  the  only  bonds,  which,  with  him,  were  irre- 
sistible: he  therefore  made  him  a present  of  a French  mis- 
tress; by  whose  means,  he  hoped,  for  the  future,  to  govern 
him.  To  a conference  held  with  Charles,  at  Dover,  the 
dutchess  of  Orleans,  forgetting  the  delicacy  of  virtue,  and  be- 
coming a pander  to  the  unchaste  desires  of  her  own  brother, 
brought  with  her  a beautiful  young  lady,  of  the  name  of 
Queroiiaille;  whom  the  king  carried  to  London,  and  soon 
afterwards  created  dutchess  of  Portsmouth.  This  female,  to 
whom  he  was  extremely  attached,  during  the  whole  course  of 
his  life,  proved  a great  means  of  supporting  his  connexions 
with  her  native  country.*  The  necessities  of  Charles,  se- 

* The  Author  has  seen,  in  Europe,  a fine  portrait  of  this  celebrated 
woman ; from  whom,  was  descended  the  late  duke  of  Richmond,  who 
died,  a few  years  ago,  in  Canada,  and  had  been  the  subject  of  consi- 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


219 


corided  her  arts.  The  sums  that  his  profusion  demanded, 
and  his  parliament  denied,  wefe  supplied  by  Louis;  and  the 
king  of  England  was  thus  prevailed  on,  to  relinquish  the 
most  settled  maxims  of  policy  and  honour,  and  sign  engage- 
ments for  the  destruction  of  Holland,  with  which  he  had  so 
lately  united  himself,  to  suppress  the  ambition  of  France; 
and  also  for  the  establishment  of  popery  and  arbitrary  sway, 
in  Great  Britain. 

Two  factions  at  this  time  agitated  the  Dutch  republic. 
One  was  headed  by  John  de  Witt,  grand  pensionary  of 
Holland:  a man  equally  eminent  for  greatness  of  mind,  for 
capacity,  and  integrity;  but  who  regarded  with  jealousy, 
the  least  shadow  of  absolute  power:— the  other,  less  attach- 
ed to  the  exterior  of  liberty,  desirous  of  restoring  the  stadt- 
holdership,  and  of  investing  the  prince  of  Orange  with  the 
posts  and  dignities  of  his  ancestors. 

- Louis  XIY.  burst  into  the  United  Provinces,  at  the 

head  of  a prodigious  army,  fearful  by  its  number, 
and  rendered  still  more  formidable,  by  the  skill  and  expe- 
rience of  Turenne,  Conde,  Luxembourg,  and  Yauban. 
Their  progress  was  commensurate  with  their  means  of  con- 
quest. In  little  more  than  a month,  three  provinces,  out  of 
seven — Guelderland,  Overyssel,  and  Utrecht — were  in  the 
hands  of  Louis;  Groningen  was  threatened,  Friezeland  lay 
exposed,  and  the  only  difficulty  that  presented  itself,  was 
in  Holland  and  Zealand,  where  his  conquests  were  stopped, 
by  an  inundation. 

But  the  Dutch  maintained  their  former  renown,  at  sea; 
and  engaged,  with  alacrity,  the  combined  fleets  of  two  pow- 
erful nations;  the  English,  commanded  by  the  duke  of  York 
(afterwards  James  II.)  and  the  ear!  of  Sandwich;  the  French, 
by  the  count  d’Estrees.  De  Ruyter,  the  republican  ad- 
miral, acquired,  on  this  occasion,  immortal  honour;  and 
acknowledged,  that,  of  two-and-thirty  actions,  in  which 
lie  had  been  engaged,  this  battle  was  the  most  obstinately 
disputed.  The  loss  sustained  by  the  two  fleets,  was 
nearly  equal:  the  approach  of  night  suspended  the  fury  of 
the  combatants,  and  both  sides  retired  to  their  respective 
harbours,  to  repair. 

The  glory  of  De  Ruyter  could  not  inspire  his  country- 
dccable  notice,  in  consequence  of  a duel  fought  by  him,  with  the  duke 


220 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


men,  to  emulate  his  conduct,  on  land.  The  states  deter- 
mined to  implore  the  pity  of  the  confederated  monarchs;  but 
the  conditions  prescribed,  by  Louis,  were  little  better  than 
articles  of  slavery;  and  displayed  any  thing  but  the  senti- 
ments of  a generous  mind.  All  the  towns,  on  the  other 
side  cf  the  Rhine,  were  to  be  ceded,  with  Nimeguen,  and 
several  in  the  very  heart  of  the  provinces:  the  Roman  Catho- 
lic religion  was  every  where  to  be  established,  and  a medal 
was  annually  to  be  presented,  to  the  French  court,  import- 
ing that  the  Hollanders  retained  their  freedom,  by  the  mode- 
ration of  Louis. 

The  indignation  of  the  populace,  at  terms  so  ruinous  and 
disgraceful,  broke  out,  in  violent  seditions.  The  unfortu- 
nate I)e  Witt,  and  his  brother  Cornelius,  were  torn  to  pieces, 
and  the  united  voice  of  the  people  invested,  with  the  sole 
administration,  William  prince  of  Orange.  Though  only  in 
his  twenty-second  year,  the  prince  gave  strong  indications  ot 
those  great  qualities,  by  which  his  life  was  afterwards  dis- 
tinguished. His  appointment  once  more  animated  the  droop- 
ing spirits  of  his  countrymen:  to  check  the  progress  of  the 
victor,  they  opened  their  sluices,  and  laid  the  adjacent 
country  under  water;  Louis  returned  to  his  capital;  in  the 
ensuing  year,  the  emperor  and  the  king  of  Spain  declared 
themseves  allies  of  the  Dutch;  De  Ruyter  still  maintained 
his  reputation  at  sea;  and  the  French  monarch  was  obliged 
to  recall  his  forces,  and  abandon  all  his  conquests,  with 
greater  rapidity  than  he  had  made  them. 

The  ensuing  year  had  not  elapsed,  when  another  unfa- 
vourable event  occurred  to  Louis.  The  firm  remonstrances 
of  the  English  parliament,  and  the  clamours  of  the  people, 
compelled  Charles  to  conclude  a peace  with  the  United  Pro- 
vinces. Yet,  the  restless  and  aspiring  mind  of  Louis  was 
not  dismayed.  Inactivity  was  to  him  as  death.  It  was  in 
war,  only,  that  he  seemed  to  live.  Hostilities  were  re- 
newed, by  him,  with  unabated  vigour;  and  fresh  laurels 
were  gathered,  by  his  experienced  generals.  But  the  time 
was  short,  in  which  Turenne  was  allowed  to  wear 

/ his  blood  stained  crown.  When  reconnoitering  the 
site  of  an  intended  battery,  near  the  village  of  Saltzbach, 
on  the  Rhine,  he  was  killed,  by  a cannon-ball;  and,  shortly 
afterwards,  the  prince  of  Conde  closed  the  long  series  of  his 
martial  toils,  by  retiring  to  his  palace,  at  Chantilly;  while 
the  imperial  general,  Montecuculli,  full  of  years  and  fame, 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


221 


withdrew  from  the  scene  of  action,  unwilling  to  expose  that 
reputation,  with  younger  adversaries,  which  he  had  acquired 
as  the  rival  of  Conde  and  Turenne. 

The  French  were,  at  this  time,  still  more  successful  at 
sea.  The  duke  de  Vivonne  defeated  the  combined  fleets  of 
Holland  and  Spain,  near  the  coast  of  Sicily,  in  three  differ- 
ent engagements.  The  second  of  these  was  rendered  me- 
morable, by  the  death  of  the  famous  Dutch  admiral,  De  Ruy- 
ter:  the  last  and  most  decisive  was  fought  near  Palermo; 
where  twelve  of  the  enemies’  largest  ships  were  taken  or 
destroyed,  and  five-thousand  of  their  men  were  killed. 

Meanwhile,  the  language  of  peace  had  been  re- 

‘ * sumed,  and  a congress  had  assembled,  at  Nimeguen, 
under  the  mediation  of  the  king  of  England.  Having  be- 
stowed the  hand  of  his  niece  upon  the  prince  of  Orange, 
Charles  seemed  desirous  of  acquiescing  in  the  wishes  of  the 
nation,  and  of  rolling  back,  from  the  suffering  provinces,  the 
tide  of  ruin.  The  Dutch  ambassador  there  signed  a treaty, 
disadvantageous  both  to  the  republic  and  its  allies;  to  which 
the  king  of  Spain  and  the  emperor  reluctantly  subscribed. 

This  war,  and  the  treaty  by  which  it  was  concluded,  gave 
to  Louis  a decided  ascendancy,  in  Europe.  His  generals 
had  shown  themselves  superior  to  those  of  every  other  nation, 
and  his  arms  had  humbled  his  most  powerful  neighbours. 
168G  his  flueen  was  an  event  but  little  re- 

garded, by  Louis;  who  already  felt  that  passion  for 
madame  de  Maintenon,  which  accompanied  him  through 
lii^.  He  was  doubtless  more  concerned  at  the  death  of 
Colbert;  whose  skill  and  ability,  as  a financier,  had  greatly 
contributed  to  his  conquests. 

The  peace  of  Nimeguen  served  only  to  inflame  the  ambi- 
tion of  the  French  monarch.  He  still  retained  a formidable 
army;  and,  acting  as  if  he  were  absolute  sovereign  of  Europe, 
he  revived  old  titles  and  claims,  that  were  buried  in  remote 
antiquity,  and  made  daily  encroachments  upon  the  neigh- 
bouring states. 

On  pretences,  the  most  frivolous,  he  demanded  Alost  from 
the  Spaniards,  and,  on  their  refusal,  seized  upon  Luxem- 
bourg; to  which  indignity,  the  weakness  of  Spain  compelled 
her  to  submit,  by  signing,  at  Itatisbon,  a truce  for  twenty 
years;  which  left  Louis  in  peaceable  possession  of  that  town. 
With  equal  injustice,  he  bombarded  Genoa,  and  constrained 
the  republic  to  sue  for  peace,  for  having  stipulated  to  build 
t 2 


£22 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


some  galleys,  for  the  Spaniards.  But,  a more  becoming  spirit 
was  displayed  against  Algiers;  whose  licentious  rovers,  after 
beholding  the  greater  part  of  their  city  reduced  to  ashes,  were 
compelled  to  release  several  hundred  Christian  captives. 
Yet  the  true  principles  of  Christianity  were  foreign  to  the 
breast  of  Louis.  He  exercised  not  less  injustice  towards 
a large  portion  of  his  own  subjects,  than  severity  against  the 
infidels  of  Algiers.  His  inclinations  were  all  despotic. 
While  he  braved  the  spiritual  censures  of  the  father  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  church,  he  revoked  the  edict  of  Nantz, 
revived  the  persecution  against  the  protestants,  and  drove 
into  exile  above  five-hundred-thousand  of  the  most  indus- 
trious and  ingenious  inhabitants  of  France;  which  unfeeling 
measure — as  impolitic,  as  it  was  cruel — gave  a death-blow 
to  her  manufactures,  the  chief  support  of  her  multifarious 
and  extensive  commerce. 

^ The  melancholy  fate  of  the  refugees,  inflamed 

1 * against  him  all  the  protestant  nations  of  Europe. 
The  prince  of  Orange  formed  a league,  at  Augsburg;  where 
the  whole  empire  united  in  its  defence  against  the  French 
monarch;  and  to  which,  Spain,  Holland,  and  Savoy,  became 
parties,  and  Sweden  and  Denmark  seemed  favourably 
inclined. 

~ But  the  attention  of  the  king  was  suddenly  en- 

* grossed,  by  the  affairs  of  England.  Charles  II.  had 
expired:  he  was  succeeded  on  the  throne  by  his  brother 
James;  who  openly  violated  the  laws  of  his  country,  at- 
tempted to  subvert  the  national  religion,  and  introduce  into 
the  kingdom  the  tyrannical  authority  of  the  church  of  Rome. 
His  subjects,  (of  whom,  only  about  a hundredth  part„were, 
at  this  time,  catholics)  were  compelled  to  provide  for  their 
safety,  by  revolt;  and  to  call,  to  their  protection,  the  prince 
of  Orange,  the  son-in-law  and  nephew  of  the  infatuated 
James;  who,  with  his  consort,  Mary,  were  soon  placed,  by 
the  almost  unanimous  voice  of  the  English  nation,  upon  the 
throne.  James  sought  shelter,  with  his  infant  son  and  queen 
in  France:  where,  the  royal  fugitives  were  received,  by 
Louis, with  every  mark  of  respect,  and  assurance  of  support. 
The  unhappy  prince  had  still  a strong  party  in  Ireland. 
Thither,  he  repaired,  with  arms  and  ammunition,  and  a 
fleet,  furnished  by  the  king  of  France:  on  the  banks  of  the 

r Boyne,  between  Drogheda  and  Slane,  he  was  en- 

lby0‘  countered  by  his  rival,  William;  was  there  entirely 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


2£3 


routed;  and,  after  the  disastrous  action,  having  fled  hastily  on 
board  a ship,  he  returned  to  the  court  of  France. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  French  admiral,  Tourville,  gained, 
off  Beachy  Head,  a victory  over  the  combined  fleets  of 
England  and  Holland,  commanded  by  the  earl  of  Torring- 
ton  and  admiral  Evertzen;  by  which,  the  allies  lost  eight  sail 
of  the  line,  and  many  others  were  rendered  unfit  for  service. 

In  Flanders,  too,  the  arms  of  Louis  were  decidedly 
victorious;  though,  in  Germany  and  Spain,  the  scales 
of  victory  were  more  equally  balanced.  Still  eager  to 
restore  the  prostrate  fortunes  of  James,  he  determined  to 
hazard  a general  action,  at  sea;  and,  if  successful,  to  land 
an  army  on  the  shores  of  England.  The  hostile  fleets  met, 
in  the  Channel,  near  Cape  la  Hogue;  and  Tourville,  the 
French  admiral,  obeyed  the  orders  of  his  sovereign.  But, 
the  superior  number  of  his  opponents,  soon  decided  the  fate 
of  the  day.  Tourville’s  own  ship,  and  twenty  more,  of  his 
largest  vessels,  were  destroyed;  and  James  beheld,  from  a 
neighbouring  eminence,  the  scattered  fragments,  which 
blasted  the  fond  expectations  that  he  had  nourished. 

But  the  fortune  of  Louis  seemed  still  inclined  to 
favour  him,  on  land.  Namur,  the  strongest  fortress 
of  the  Netherlands,  was  reduced,  even  in  the  sight  of  Wil- 
liam; and  at  Landen,  the  army  of  the  confederates,  under  the 
command  of  this  gallant  prince,  was  broken,  by  the  duke 
of  Luxembourg,  with  the  loss  of  eight-thousand  men.  Yet, 
while  France  appeared  an  object  of  envy,  to  the  neighbouring 
states,  her  distress  every  day  increased,  with  the  number  of 
her  victories.  Her  provinces  were  depopulated,  to  recruit 
her  fleets  and  armies;  the  ravages  of  the  sword  attended  by 
those  of  famine;  and  her  monarch,  while  exulting  in  the  midst 
of  war,  was  frequently  heard  to  sigh  for  peace.  The  king  of 
England  invested  Namur;  and,  though  that  city  was  obsti- 
nately defended,  by  marshal  Boufllers,  it  was  obliged  to 
capitulate,  in  sight  of  the  French  army,  under  the  command 
of  Villeroy. 

Each  party  at  length  seriously  inclined  to  peace. 
The  mediation  of  Charles  XII. , of  Sweden,  was  ac- 
cepted, and  the  castle  of  Ryswick,  near  the  Hague,  was 
fixed  upon,  as  the  scene  of  negotiation.  The  king  of  France 
restored,  to  the  Spaniards,  ail  those  places  that  he  had  taken 
from  them,  during  the  last  war;  and  the  conquests  made  by 
him  in  Flanders:  to  the  empire,  he  relinquished  many  fortified 


£24 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


towns,  of  not  less  importance:  he  acknowledged  William  III. 
(whom  he  had  hitherto  treated  as  a usurper)  as  lawful  king  of 
England:  and  thus,  France,  after  a long  and  bloody  war,  in 
which  her  victories  were  scarcely  less  numerous  than  her 
battles,  consented  to  a treaty,  which  could  hardly  have  been 
expected  from  her,  if  humbled  by  defeat. 

Only  four  years  were  allowed  to  pass,  before  Louis 
again  shook  olf  the  restraints  of  peace.  On  the  death 
of  The  Spanish  monarch,  Charles  II.  without  children,  the 
king  of  France,  in  conformity  with  a will  which  had  been 
executed,  by  means  of  improper  influence,  by  the  dying 
prince,  caused  his  grandson,  the  duke  of  Anjou,  to  be  pro- 
claimed sole  heir  of  all  his  dominions,  under  the  title  of  Philip 
V.,  to  the  total  exclusion  of  the  house  of  Austria;  which  had 
equal  pretensions  to  the  inheritance,  and  in  direct  contra- 
vention of  a partition  treaty,  which  he  himself  had  concluded 
with  the  king  of  England  and  the  states  general. 

While  Leopold  still  hesitated  whether  to  acknowledge  or 
oppose  the  elevation  of  Philip,  he  was  aroused,  by  a new 
proof  of  the  insatiate  disposition  of  Louis.  Having  prevailed 
upon  the  duke  of  Mantua  to  admit  a French  garrison  into  his 
citadel,  all  Europe  trembled  for  their  liberties.  The.emperor 
immediately  prepared  to  guarantee  the  integrity  of  his  empire, 
by  the  sword;  and  intrusted  his  army  to  the  command  of 
the  prince  Eugene.  This  general,  (a  son  of  the  count  of  Sois- 
sons)  who  had  already  distinguished  himself,  in  successive 
victories,  over  the  Turks,  afterwards  obtained  so  high  re- 
nown, and  became  so  dangerous  an  adversary  to  Louis,  had 
aspired  to  military  honours,  in  his  native  country;  but  his  re- 
quest of  a regiment  had  been  rejected,  by  the  king;  and  t^, 
indignant  prince  for  ever  renounced  the  service  of  France, 
and  sought  glory  under  the  imperial  standard.  He  now  en- 
tered Italy,  with  thirty-thousand  troops,  forced  the  post  of 
Carpi,  overwhelmed  the  country  between  the  Adige  and 
the  Adda,  and  defeated  Yilleroy,  the  favourite  of  Louis,  at 
Chiari,  with  the  loss  of  five-hundred  men. 

In  the  midst  of  these  rapid  operations,  James,  the  exiled 
monarch  of  England,  closed  at  "St.  Germains,  his  unfor- 
tunate and  inglorious  life.  An  opportunity  was  thus  afford- 
ed, to  Louis,  of  violating  a solemn  engagement.  Though  he 
had  acknowledged  William’s  title,  by  the  peace  of  Ryswick, 
the  tears  and  importunities  of  madame  de  Maintenon,  pre- 
vailed over  the  counsels  of  his  most  experienced  ministers; 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


£25 


and  he  proclaimed  the  son  of  the  deceased  prince,  king  of 
England,  as  James  III.  The  English  partook  in  the  indig- 
nation of  their  sovereign,  at  this  wanton  insult;  and  prepared 
to  vindicate  their  choice,  by  arms.  William  concerted  a 
triple  alliance,  between  the  empire,  the  United  Provinces, 
and  England;  and  hastened,  by  his  presence  and  diligence, 
their  formidable  preparations  for  the  field. 

..  But  these  incessant  efforts  exhausted  a frame,  na- 

/ turally  delicate  and  weak;  a fall  from  his  horse,  quick- 
ened the  progress  of  disease;  and,  in' the  fifty -second  year  of 
his  age,  after  a reign  of  thirteen  years,  he  yielded  up  his 
throne  and  life.  His  consort,  Mary,  having  preceded  him 
in  her  demise,  the  sceptre  fell  into  the  hands  of  Anne;  (the 
youngest  daughter  of  James  II.,  and  wife  to  the  prince  of 
Denmark;)  who  despatched  the  earl  of  Marlborough  to  the 
Hague,  to  assure  the  allies  that  she  would  adopt  the  engage- 
ments entered  into  by  William. 

That  nobleman  was  soon  afterwards  appointed  to  com 
mand  the  allied  army,  and  displayed  that  military  skill* 
which  he  had  acquired  under  marshal  Turenne.  The  French 
general,  Boufflers,  was  confounded,  by  his  rapid  and  com- 
plicated movements.  He  evacuated  Guelderland,  retired 
under  the  walls  of  Liege,  and  finally  sought  shelter  in  Bra- 
bant; while  Marlborough  successively  reduced  Yenlo,  Rure- 
monde,  and  Liege. 

It  has  been  said,  of  Marlborough,  what  cannot  be  affirmed 
of  any  other  general,  either  of  ancient  or  modern  times,* 
66  that  he  never  fought  a battle  that  he  did  not  win,  nor 
besieged  a town  that  he  did  not  take.” 

As  a counterpoise  to  those  victories,  gained  by  the  ene- 
mies of  France,  marshal  Villars  obtained  a decisive  ad- 
vantage over  prince  Louis  of  Baden,  and  also  the  imperial 
general,  count  Styrum;  and  Tallard  defeated  the  prince  of 
Hesse.  Villars  was  now  recalled,  to  wage  an  inglo- 
rious war  against  the  unhappy  protestants,  whom  the 
persecutions  of  Louis  had  forced  into  a revolt;  and  the 

flory  of  France  was  intrusted  to  marshal  Tallard.  The 
rench  and  Bavarians,  with  superior  numbers,  advanced  to 
attack  the  confederates,  who  had  effected  a junction  with  the 
prince  of  Baden  : but  the  village  of  Blenheim  was  rendered 
memorable,  by  the  defeat  of  Tallard.  That  general  was 

* The  duke  of  Wellington,  we  believe,  has  been  equally  fortunate 
s a commander. 


£26 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCK. 


vanquished,  by  the  duke  of  Marlborough,  seconded  by  prince 
Eugene;  he  himself  was  taken  prisoner,  with  thirteen-thou- 
sand of  the  bravest  troops  of  France;  twelve-thousand 
perished  by  the  sword,  or  were  overwhelmed  in  the  rapid 
stream  of  the  Danube;  and,  of  an  army  of  sixty-thousand 
men,  scarcely  twenty-thousand  could  be  collected  from  its 
broken  remains. 

The  next  day,  when  the  duke  visited  his  prisoner,  Tal- 
lard,  the  marshal,  intending  it  as  a compliment,  assured 
him,  that  he  had  beaten  the  best  troops  in  the  world:  to 
which,  the  duke  replied,  “I  hope,  Sir,  you  will  except 
those  by  whom  they  have  been  beaten. ” 

The  campaign  in  Flanders  opened  with  events 
scarcely  less  disastrous.  Near  the  village  of  Ra- 
mil! ies,  marshal  Villeroy  was  defeated,  by  the  duke  of 
Marlborough,  with  the  loss  of  one-hundred-and -twenty 
standards,  and  fifteen- thousand  men;  though  the  loss  of  the 
victors  was  not  more  than  three-thousand.  The  court  of 
Louis  was  filled  with  consternation:  but  the  king  himself 
still  preserved  his  magnanimity:  instead  of  reproaching,  he 
endeavoured  to  console  the  unfortunate  Villeroy;  and,  to  his 
expressions  of  concern,  replied,  “ People,  at  our  time  of 
life,  monsieur  marshal,  are  not  fortunate.” 

In  Spain,  the  war  had  hitherto  been  carried  on 
' ‘ with  various  success.  The  French  and  the  Austrian 
king  of  that  country,  Philip  and  Charles,  alternately  pos- 
sessed and  abandoned  the  capital.  But  the  battle  of  Almanza 
turned  the  scale  decidedly  in  favour  of  Philip.  In  that 
action,  the  combined  English  and  Portuguese  armies  were 
totally  defeated,  by  the  duke  of  Berwick,  a natural  son  of 
James  II.,  with  the  loss  of  five-thousand  killed  and  wounded, 
and  ten-thousand  prisoners;  and,  in  consequence,  the  pro- 
vinces of  Valencia  and  Saragossa,  as  well  as  the  capital, 
were  wrested  from  Charles,  and  brought  under  the  sceptre 
of  Philip. 

That  victory,  in  Spain,  and  the  transient  success 
/ * of  the  next  campaign,  having  revived  the  drooping 
spirits  of  the  king  of  France,  he  determined  to  make  one 
more  exertion,  in  favour  of  the  exiled  house  of  Stuart. 
Seventy  transports,  with  six-thousand  troops,  convoyed  by 
eight  men  of  war,  sailed  from  Dunkirk;  but  the  coasts  of 
Britain  were  protected  by  her  numerous  fleet;  the  vigilance 
of  her  officers  was  already  alarmed,  and  the  French,  after  a 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


227 

fruitless  attempt  to  land  in  Scotland,  esteemed  themselves 
happy  in  safely  regaining  Dunkirk. 

The  difficulties  of  Louis  increased,  on  every  side.  The 
British  fleet  captured  the  islands  of  Sardinia  and  Minorca, 
from  the  king  of  Spain.  The  taking  of  Lisle  had  opened  a 
road  to  the  very  gates  of  Paris ; that  proud  city  was  alarmed 
and  insulted  by  the  predatory  incursions  of  the  enemy;  and 
a prince,  who  had  displayed  his  banners,  a few  years  before, 
on  the  banks  of  the  Danube,  the  Tagus,  and  the  Po,  now 
doubted  whether  he  could  remain  in  his  capital,  in  safety. 
The  despair  of  the  nation  was  completed,  by  the  severity 
of  the  winter:  the  olive  trees  were  destroyed,  the  grain  was 
cut  off,  and  the  prospect  of  famine  threw  a deeper  gloom 
over  the  calamities  of  war.  Louis  was  humbled,  by  his 
adverse  fortune.  He  instructed  his  minister,  Torry,  to 
open,  at  the  Hague,  a negotiation  for  peace.  But,  though 
the  king  of  France  agreed  to  yield  the  whole  Spanish  mon- 
archyto  Austria,  and  remain  a silent  spectator  of  the 
expulsion  of  his  own  grandson,  Philip  V.,  from  the 
throne;  to  cede  Furnes,  Ypres,  Tournay,  Lisle,  and  other  im- 
portant places  of  strength,  as  a barrier  to  Holland;  to  ac- 
knowledge the  title  of  Anne,  to  the  British  throne;  and  to 
remove  her  brother  (the  pretender)  from  France;  yet  these 
concessions  appeared  insufficient,  and  the  allies  demanded 
that  the  king  should  assist , in  driving  his  grandson  from  the 
throne  of  Spain.  These  ignominious  conditions,  however, 
Louis  rejected,  with  indignation,  and  added,  “ since  I must 
make  war,  I had  rather  it  were  against  my  enemies,  than  my 
own  children.” 

But  ^ie  P8ace  which  France  had  in  vain  implored, 
by  the  most  humiliating  concessions,  was  now  faci- 
litated, by  two  events,  as  favourable,  as  they  were  unexpec- 
ted. The  first  of  these,  was  a change  in  the  cabinet  of 
England.  The  queen  was  prevailed  on  to  dismiss  her  Whig 
ministers,  by  whom  the  war  had  been  conducted,  and  to 
admit  to  her  councils  an  opposite  description  of  men,  of  the 
Tory  faction;  by  whom,  it  had  uniformly  been  opposed. 
About  the  same  time,  the  emperor  Joseph  expired;  and  his 
brother  Charles,  the  competitor  of  Philip  for  the  crown  of 
Spain,  was  raised  to  the  imperial  throne.  The  confederates 
had  been  roused  to  action,  by  the  dread  of  uniting,  in  one 
hand,  the  sceptres  of  Spain  and  France;  and  they  could  not 
but  regard,  with  similar  jealousy,  the  former  kingdom  added 


£28 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


to  the  hereditary  dominions  of  Charles,  and  also  the  power 
derived  by  him  from  the  imperial  crown.  ' 

The  reduction  of  Bouchain  was  the  last,  of  the  long  and 
splendid  exploits  of  the  duke  of  Marlborough.  Having  been 
recalled  to  England,  he  soon  afterwards  resigned  his  com- 
mand, and  was  succeeded  by  the  duke  of  Ormond.  But 
this  nobleman,  though  brave,  was  sent  over,  rather  to  nego- 
tiate, than  fight.  A cessation  of  arms  was  soon  proclaimed, 
between  France  and  Great  Britrdn;  and  the  duke  directed 
his  march  towards  D unkirk ^which  was  delivered,  by  Louis, 
to  the  English,  as  a pledge  of  his  intention  to  fulfil  the  pre- 
liminaries of  peace,  signed  by  his  envoy. 

Believed  from  the  operations  of  the  British  army, 
the  success  of  Villars  was  no  less  brilliant,  than 
rapid.  Open  conferences  for  peace  were  held  at  Utrecht. 
The  emperor  and  some  of  the  independent  princes  of  Ger- 
many, still  maintained  a haughty  and  sullen  reserve,  and 
refused  to  sheath  the  sword:  but  separate  treaties  were  then 
signed,  by  Great  Britain  and  Holland,  Prussia,  Portugal, 
and  Savoy;  and,  in  the  following  year,  peace  was  concluded, 
with  the  empire,  at  Radstadt. 

Philip  V.  (grandson  of  Louis  XIV.)  was  acknowledged 
king  of  Spain;  but,  at  the  same  time,  he  solemnly  renounced 
all  pretensions  to  the  crown  of  France.  Louis,  for  the  other 
branches  of  the  house  of  Bourbon,  disavowed  all  right  to  the 
future  succession  of  any  part  of  the  Spanish  dominions;  and 
every  precaution  was  used,  to  separate,  for  ever,  those 
kindred  thrones.  The  king  of  France  consented  to  guarantee 
the  crown  of  Britain  to  the  protestant  line  of  the  house  of 
Hanover;  to  demolish  the  fortifications  of  Dunkirk,  and  to 
yield,  across  the  Atlantic,  Newfoundland,  Hudson’s  Bay,  and 
Acadia  (now  called  Nova  Scotia:)  to  allow  the  title  of  king 
of  Prussia,  to  the  elector  of  Brandenburg,  and  to  cede  to  him 
the  town  of  Gueldres,  with  part  of  the  Spanish  Guelderland: 
to  the  duke  of  Savoy,  was  given  the  island  of  Sicily,  with 
the  title  of  king;  and,  in  case  of  failure  in  the  king  of  Spain 
and  his  posterity,  he  was  also  secured  in  the  succession  of 
the  Spanish  monarchy;  on  which  condition,  he  renounced,  for 
himself  and  his  descendants,  all  right  of  succession  to  the 
crown  of  France. 

the  Preceding  year,  queen  Anne  had  expired, 

/ * in  England;  and  the  life  of  Louis,  who  had  now 

reached  a venerable  age,  was  also  drawing  near  its  end.  In 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


229 


his  last  hours,  he  discovered  an  admirable  tranquillity,  and 
greatness  of  mind.  “ Why  do  you  weep,55  said  he,  to  his 
domestics,— 66  did  you  think  me  immortal!55 — He  had  the 
courage  even  to  acknowledge  his  errors;  and  his  advice  to 
his  infant  successor,  was,  to  avoid  that  glory  which  he  him- 
self had  sought  in  war;  and  to  consider  the  happiness  of  his 
people,  as  the  principal  object  of  his  government. — He  died, 
on  the  first  of  September,  when  he  wanted  only  four  days 
of  completing  the  seventy-seventh  year  of  his  age;  his  reign 
of  seventy -two  years,  three  months,  and  seventeen  days, 
being,  we  believe,  the  longest  that  any  monarch  ever  enjoyed. 
He  was  cotemporary  with  four  kings  in  Sweden,  four  in 
Denmark,  five  in  Poland,  five  in  Portugal,  three  in  Spain, 
four  in  England,  three  emperors,  and  nine  popes. 

By  his  first  wife,  Louis  had  one  son,  the  dauphin;  who 
died  in  the  year  1711,  leaving  three  sons,  Louis,  Philip,  and 
Gaston;  by  the  eldest  of  whom,  he  was  succeeded  on  the 
throne. 

6;  The  masculine  beauty  of  his  person,55  says  a discerning 
author,  “ was  embellished  with  a noble  air;  the  dignity  of 
his  behaviour  was  tempered  with  the  highest  degree  of  affa- 
bility and  politeness-: — elegant,  without  effeminacy;  addicted 
to  pleasure,  without  neglecting  business;  decent,  in  his  very 
vices;  and  beloved,  in  the  midst  of  arbitrary  power.  He 
patronised  the  learned,  with  a liberal  hand;  and  the  painter, 
the  sculptor,  and  the  architect,  were  awoke  into  life,  by  the 
genial  ray  of  his  bounty.55 

Not  only  the  ablest  poets,  but  the  ablest  historians,  also, 
have  exerted  their  genius,  in  emblazoning  the  reign  of 
Louis.  To  his  name,  has  been  appended  the  envied  appel- 
lation of  Great.  His  victories  have  been  sung,  in  the  choicest 
language  of  adulation;  and  the  talents  of  the  learned  and 
scientific,  whom  he  had  the  discernment  to  encourage, 
have  been  transferred,  from  the  protegees  to  the  patron. 
But,  to  an  unprejudiced  and  independent  mind,  unaffected 
by  the  dazzling  glare  which  a century  has  removed,  little 
appears,  to  justify  the  application  of  Great.  His  actions 
stand  recorded.  From  his  deeds,  let  us  form  our  judgment. 
Let  us  view  him  as  a statesman, — the  wars  in  which  he  so 
much  delighted,  were  not  demanded  by  the  welfare  of  his 
kingdom:  as  a general,  he  displayed  not  a single  instance 
of  military  skill:  as  a soldier,  he  was  not  brave;  as  a scholar 
he  was  unlearned. 

U 


230 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


The  despotism  of  the  French  monarchy,  of  which  the 
foundations  were  laid  by  cardinal  Richelieu,  was  completely 
established  by  Louis  XIV.-  The  reign  of  this  prince  exhibits, 
with  regard  to  the  extent  of  the  royal  authority,  a remark- 
able contrast  to  the  times  immediately  preceding  and  follow- 
ing the  accession  of  his  progenitor,  Hugh  Capet.  Then, 
the  aristocracy  possessed  all  the  power  of  the  kingdom;  the 
king  was  only  a pageant  of  state;  but,  in  the  reign  of  Louis 
XIV.,  the  king  was  every  thing — all  the  orders  of  his  sub- 
jects, were  nothing; — and  all  the  greatness  and  happiness 
of  the  nation,  was  centered  in  the  glory  of  the  66  grand 
monarque.”  <. 

The  duke  de  Montausier,  preceptor  to  the  dauphin  (who 
died  before  Louis)  is  said  to  have  been  the  only  one  of  that 
monarch’s  courtiers,  who  had  the  courage  to  speak  the  truth 
to  him.  When  Louis  one  day  told  him  that  he  had  pardoned 
a man  who  had  killed  nineteen  persons,  after  having  been 
pardoned  for  the  first  murder  that  he  committed; — u Nc 
sire,”  said  Montausier,  “he  killed  but  one:  your  majesty 
killed  the  nineteen.” 

Montausier  was  the  first  projector  of  the  Delphin  edition 
of  the  classics. 

France,  though  she  at  length  became  distinguished  for  her 
commerce  and  naval  power,  was  late  in  establishing  any 
permanent  colony.  Though  a voyage  had  been  performed, 
to  the  East  Indies,  by  one  of  her  merchants,  in  the  year 
1601,  she  had  as  yet  no  settlement  in  that  country:  her 
colonies  in  Hispaniola  were  not  planted  until  the  subsequent 
reign;  those  in  the  isles  of  Cayenne,  Guadaloupe,  Martinique, 
and  Granada,  Bourbon,  and  the  Mauritius,  were  unimportant. 

The  reign  of  Louis  presents  many  conspicuous  examples 
of  men  of  genius.  The  progress  of  arts  and  literature,  kept 
pace  with  the  improvement  of  manners.  As  early  as  the 
reign  of  Francis  I.,  who  is  styled  the  “ Father  of  the  French 
Muses-,”  a better  taste  in  composition  had  been  introduced 
Rabelais  and  Montaigne  gave  a beginning  to  the  French 
prose;  and  French  verse  was  gradually  polished  by  Marot, 
Rousard,  and  Malherbe;  while  prose  received  new  graces 
from  Voiture  and  Balzac.  Rabelais  possessed  great  bril- 
liancy of  wit,  and  smartness  of  repartee:  his  chief  work  is 
the  History  of  Gargantua  and  Pantagrucl;  a satirical  romance, 
aimed  against  priests  and  popes,  fools  and  knaves.  The  es- 
says of  Montaigne  are  amusing,  and  convey  much  instruction 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


£31 


to  the  heart.  The  poetical  powers  of  Marot,  were  so  highly 
esteemed,  that  he  was  called,  in  France,  the  poet  of  princes, 
and  the  prince  of  poets.  To  his  fertile  invention,  the  French 
are  indebted  for  the  madrigal  and  rondeau. — At  length, 
Corneille  produced  the  “ Cid,”  and  Pascal  the  “Provincial 
Letters;9’  the  former  of  which  is  admired  as  a great  effort 
of  poetical  genius;  and  the  latter  is  still  deemed  an  excellent 
model  of  prose  composition,  as  well  as  of  delicate  raillery 
and  sound  reasoning. — Corneille  was  followed  by  Moliere, 
Racine,  Quinault,  Boileau,  and  La  Fontaine.*  The  real 
name  of  Moliere,  was  Pocquelin.  His  father,  who  was  a 
tapestry-maker  to  the  court,  intended  him  for  his  own  busi- 
ness. The  boy,  however,  being  frequently  taken,  by  his 
grandfather,  to  the  theatre,  acquired  so  great  a taste  for 
dramatic  representations,  that  it  excited  in  him  contempt 
for  tapestry-making;  and  he  was  sent  to  study,  under  the 
Jesuits,  at  the  college  of  Clermont.  He  afterwards  applied 
himself  to  the  law;  but,  after  his  father’s  death,  he  renounced 
all  other  employments,  for  the  stage,  and  assumed  the  name 
of  Moliere,  which  he  has  rendered  so  illustrious.  He  ex- 
hibited before  the  king,  and  with  so  much  success,  that  he 
received  a pension;  and  continued,  from  that  time,  to  enter- 
tain the  court,  with  a rapid  succession  of  new  plays.  The 
last  comedy,  produced  by  him,  was  Le  Malade  Imaginaire, 
or  the  Hypocondriac;  and,  on  the  fourth  night  of  its  being- 
acted,  the  author  died.  It  has  been  said,  that  he  exerted 
himself  much  in  the  chief  character,  and  that,  as,  in  a part 
of  the  play,  the  actor  pretends  to  be  dead,  Moliere  was  dis- 
covered to  be,  not  only  a theatrical,  but  a real  corpse.  It 
is,  however,  certain,  that,  during  the  representation,  the  au- 


* Rabelais  was  born  in 

Montaigne 

Marot  

Rousard  

Malherbe 

Voiture  

Balzac 

Corneille 

Pascal 

Molieie 

Racine 

Quinault  — 

Boileau 

La  Fontaine 


1483,  and  died  in 

1553. 

1533, 

1592. 

1496, 

1523. 

1524, 

1555, 

1628. 

1598, 

1648. 

1594, 

1654. 

1606, 

1684. 

1623, 

1662. 

1620, 

1673. 

1639, 

1699. 

1635, 

1688. 

1636, 

1711. 

1621, 

1709. 

£32 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


thor  had  a severe  defluxion  on  his  lungs,  and,  half  an  nour 
afterwards,  expired. 


CHAPTER  V. 

LOUIS  XV. 

1715— 1774. 

THE  last  two  monarchs  of  France,  Louis  XIII.  and  Louis 
XIV.,  a sketch  of  whose  reigns  has  just  been  concluded, 
were  minors,  when  they  became  entitled  to  the  throne — 
the  former  in  the  ninth,  the  latter  only  in  the  fifth  year  of 
his  age: — -a  third  instance  of  minority  now  occurred,  in  the 
succession  of  Louis  XV.,  a grandson  of  the  immediately 
preceding  king;  who  had  not  yet  completed  his  sixth  year. 

Disregarding  the  will  of  the  deceased  monarch,  whom, 
when  living,  they  had  feared  and  obeyed,  the  parliament  of 
Paris  conferred  the  sole  executive  authority  upon  the  duke 
of  Orleans,  nephew  of  the  late  king;  who  had  appointed  him 
only  head  of  the  regency,  with  a casting  vote. 

The  early  measures  of  his  administration,  are  well  deserv- 
ing of  our  praise.  They  afforded  the  most  favourable  anti- 
cipations of  his  judgment,  his  equity,  and  moderation.  But 
yryr  the  tranquillity,  which  his  pacific  disposition  promised 
/ ‘ to  maintain,  was  soon  interrupted,  by  the  intriguing 
genius  of  cardinal  Alberoni,  first  minister  of  Spain.  That 
statesman  now  formed  the  design  of  recovering  Sardinia 
from  the  emperor;  of  wresting  Sicily  from  the  duke  of  Savoy, 
contrary  to  the  treaty  of  Utrecht;  and  of  establishing  the 
pretender  on  the  throne  of  England.  But,  while  the 
Spaniards  urged  the  siege  of  Messina,  they  were  surprised, 
by  the  appearance  of  a British  squadron:  the  fleet  of  Spain 
was  defeated,  and  the  remnant  that  escaped  the  pursuit  of 
the  victors,  abandoned  the  hopeless  enterprise  against  Sicily, 
and  sought  shelter  in  their  own  harbours. 

The  duke  of  Orleans  had  declared  war  against  Spain,  in 
concert  with  the  English.  The  forces  of  France  were 
intrusted  to  the  duke  of  Berwick,  (natural  brother  of  the 
pretender)  whose  victories  had  formerly  contributed  to  place 
the  sceptre  in  the  hands  of  Philip.  He  successively  reduced 
Fontarabia  and  St.  Sebastian;  and  Spain,  overwhelmed  by 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


£35 


disasters,  both  by  sea  and  land,  consented  to  sue  for  peace. 
The  conditions  were  dictated  by  the  regent.  He  insisted 
that  Philip  should  dismiss  his  minister;  and  Alberoni  was 
delivered  to  the  French  troops,  and  conducted  to  the  fron 
tiers  of  Italy;  having  obtained,  by  his  splendid  designs,  only 
the  character  of  a rash  and  inconsiderate  projector.  Font- 
arabia  and  St.  Sebastian  were  restored  to  Spain,  but  Sicily 
was  transferred  to  the  emperor  Charles;  and  the  dukes  of 
Savoy,  in  exchange,  acquired  Sardinia;  which  island,  with 
the  title  of  king,  they  have  ever  since  possessed. 

The  Parisans  were  this  year  gratified  by  a visit  of  Peter 
the  Great.  Seeing  the  superb  mausoleum  of  cardinal  Riche- 
lieu, in  the  Sorbonne,  the  view  of  so  grand  an  object,  asso- 
ciated with  the  character  of  the  illustrious  individual  to  whose 
honour  it  had  been  erected,  threw  him  into  an  enthusiastic 
rapture.  The  Czar  ran  to  the  statue,  and,  embracing  it, 
exclaimed,  44  Oh!  that  thou  wert  yet  living!  I would  give 
thee  one  half  of  my  empire,  for  governing  the  other.95 

To  notice  every  occurrence  in  this  eventful  reign,  would 
be  inconsistent  with  our  design. 

The  financial  project  of  a Scotchman,  named  Law, 
by  which  the  royal  bank  and  the  citizens  of  France 
were  involved  in  one  extensive  ruin,  yields,  at  this  remote 
period  of  time,  to  events  of  more  general  interest.  Nor 
does  the  short  administration  of  the  profligate  cardinal 
Dubois,  demand  any  greater  share  of  our  attention. 

1^23  The  king  had  now  attained  that  age  which  had 
been  fixed  for  his  majority;  the  regency  of  course 
expired,  and  the  duke  of  Orleans  assumed  the  title  of  minis- 
ter. After  his  death,  that  office  was  committed  to  the 
feeble  administration  of  the  duke  of  Bourbon-Conde.  But 
the  reins  of  government  soon  afterwards  dropped  from  his 
inefficient  hands,  into  those  of  cardinal  Fleury.  This  pre- 
late had  been  appointed,  by  the  late  king,  preceptor,  to  his 
infant  grandson;  and,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three,  he  devoted 
the  remains  of  a life,  which,  hitherto,  had  merited  the  public 
esteem,  to  the  ungrateful  toils  that  attend  ministerial  power. 
At  a period  of  life,  when  the  most  ambitious  seek  repose,  he 
entered  the  lists  of  fame.  Yet  he  himself  was  distinguished 
for  his  simplicity  and  modesty;  and  with  reluctance,  had 
exposed  his  virtuous  manners  to  the  contagion  of  a court. — 
Every  one  has  read  the  story  of  Diogenes,  carrying,  in  the 
midst  of  day,  a lantern,  in  search  of  an  honest  man.  This 
u £ 


234 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE.  * 


subject  was  chosen,  by  an  ingenious  painter,  to  exhibit  the 
character  ot  this  minister,  in  a most  striking  manner;  the 
cynic  philosopher  being  represented,  bj  the  artist,  as  having 
found,  what  he  had  rather  conceived  in  his  imagination,  than 
supposed,  actually  to  exist,  in  the  person  of  cardinal  Fieury. 

The  pacific  disposition  of  Fieury,  corresponded  with  the 
immediate  interests  of  France,  lie  made  no  innovations: 
he  tried  no  political  experiments.  Sensible  that  a nation 
Mull  spontaneously  apply  itself  to  those  pursuits  that  are 
best  adapted  to  its  circumstances  and  condition,  he  quietly 
left  the  kingdom  to  repair  its  losses,  and  to  enrich  itself, 
by  an  extensive  and  advantageous  commerce.  Ye*,  when 
the  death  of  Augustus,  king  of  Poland,  and  the  claim 
of  Stanislaus,  the  father-in-law  of  Louis,  had  rekin- 
dled, throughout  Europe,  the  dames  of  war,  the  cardinal  was 
not  deficient  in  supporting  the  policy  of  his  royal  master. 
The  emperor  bent  before  the  storm,  and  received  the  condi- 
tions of  peace  imposed  by  the  victorious  arms  of  France. 

The  ensigns  of  war,  were  soon,  however,  again 
unfurled.  The  death  of  the  emperor,  Charles  VI., 
the  last  prince  of  the  house  of  Austria,  awakened  the  pre- 
tences of  the  several  potentates  of  Europe.  Maria  Theresa, 
the  emperor’s  eldest  daughter,  married  to  Francis  of  Lor- 
raine, grand  duke  of  Tuscany,  claimed,  by  right  of  blood, 
and  by  the  guarantee  of  the  different  European  powers, 
including  Louis  himself,  the  whole  of  the  Austrian  succes- 
sion. But,  that  princess,  though  allowed  peaceably  to  take 
possession  of  this  vast  inheritance,  was  not  without  competi- 
tors. The  elector  of  Bavaria,  and  the  king  of  Sardinia, 
claimed  each  some  part  of  the  succession;  the  kings  of  Spain 
and  Poland,  and  even  Louis  himself,  urged  their  pretensions 
to  the  whole.  Yet,  Maria  Theresa  felt  more  secure  from 
the  competition,  than  alarmed  at  the  number  of  the  claimants. 
She  w:.s  engaged  in  traversing,  in  favour  of  her  husband,  the 
designs  of  Louis — who,  despairing  of  establishing  his  own 
claim,  entertained  hopes  of  dismembering  the  Austrian 
dominions;  by  fixing  the  crown  upon  the  head  of  the  elector 
of  Bavaria — when  she  was  surprised,  by  the  invasion  of  a 
new  and  unexpected  pretender.  Claiming  four  dutchies  in 
Silesia,  the  king  of  Prussia,  Frederick  III.  (honoured,  after- 
wards, with  the  title  of  Great)  suddenly  entered  that  coun- 
try, defeated  the  Austrians,  near  Molnitz,  and  occupied  the 
whole  of  the  Silesian  dutehy. 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


£35 


The  victory  of  Molnitz  was  the  signal  for  a general  war. 
The  blood  of  thousands,  who  fell  in  the  ensuing  contest, 
betrayed  the  indifference  witli  which  monarchs  can  trifle  with 
human  life.  Now  in  his  eighty -fifth  year,  cardinal  Fleury 
was  little  inclined  to  relinquish  his  pacific  system,  and  in- 
volve the  kingdom  in  the  ambitious  strife:  but  he  was  over- 
powered, by  the  impetuous  eloquence  and  enterprising  spirit 
of  the  two  brothers,  the  marshal  and  the  chevalier  Beileisle. 
A treaty  of  partition  was  negotiated  with  the  king  of  Prussia; 
by  which,  France  and  Prussia  agreed  to  make  the  elector 
of  Bavaria  emperor,  by  the  title  of  Charles  VII. ; and  to 
give  him  Bohemia,  Upper  Austria,  and  the  Tyrolese;  and 
Louis  appointed  the  elector,  his  lieutenant  general,  and  the 
marshals  Beileisle  and  Broglio  to  a subordinate  command. 
The  success  of  the  French  was  rapid  and  transient.  The 
king  of  England  was  induced  to  conclude  a neutrality,  as 
elector  of  Hanover,  for  his  German  dominions:  the  confe- 
derates surprised  Passau,  obtained  possession  of  Litz,  and 
menaced  Vienna.  The  elector  of  Bavaria  was  chosen  em- 
peror, at  Frankfort,  under  the  title  of  Charles  VII.  But 
jealousy  already  prevailed,  amongst  the  allies:  the  French 
army,  in  its  progress,  continually  diminished,  by  sickness 
and  desertion:  George  II.,  distinguishing  between  the  ca- 
pacity of  king  of  Great  Britain  and  elector  of  Hanover, 
resolved,  as  the  former,  to  support  the  queen  of  Hungary; 
and  the  very  day  on  which  Charles  was  proclaimed  emperor, 
at  Frankfort,  he  received  intelligence  that  Lentz  had  been 
recovered,  by  the  Austrian  general,  Khevenhuller,  though 
defended  by  ten-thousand  veteran  troops  of  France. 

Even  this  disaster  was  soon  forgotten,  in  an  event  more 
important,  and  more  fatal.  The  king  of  Prussia,  having 
defeated  the  Austrians,  at  Czaslaw,  with  his  usual  sagacity 
seized  the  moment  of  victory,  to  conclude  an  advantageous 
peace,  at  Breslaw;  which  left  him  in  possession  of  Upper 
and  Lower  Silesia,  with  the  county  of  Glatz.  The  French 
1743  were  compelled  to  make  a precipitate  retreat.  The 
hostile  armies  were  thus  transferred  from  the  banks 
of  the  Danube,  to  the  Rhine;  and  cardinal  Fleury,  oppressed 
by  increasing  years,  and  the  disappointments  of  his  country, 
closed  a life,  that  would  have  terminated  more  gloriously, 
before  the  commencement  of  the  war.  The  king,  on  his 
decease,  resolved  to  be  his  own  minister,  and  his  own  com- 
mander-in-chief. The  king  of  England  had  already  taken 


236 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


tne  field,  with  forty-thousand  English,  Hanoverians,  and 
Austrians,  under  the  command  of  the  earl  of  Stair.  At  the 
village  of  Betti  ngen,  near  the  banks  of  the  Mayne,  he  was 
attacked  by  marshal  Noailles.  Had  the  French  occupied 
the  neighbouring  heights,  the  confederates  must  have  sur- 
rendered, at  discretion;  but  their  ardour  precipitated  them 
upon  the  allies,  and  their  temerity  was  chastised  by  a severe 
defeat. 

Louis  himself  invaded  Flanders;  and,  seconded 
by  the  duke  of  Noailles,  and  count  Saxe,  (a  natural 
son  of  Augustus,  king  of  Poland)  who,  by  his  exploits, 
rivalled  the  fame  of  Conde  and  Turenne,  successively  re- 
duced Menin?  Ypres,  and  Furnes.  But,  from  this  scene  of 
conquest,  he  was  soon  recalled,  to  the  defence  of  his  own 
dominions.  Prince  Charles  of  Lorraine  had  passed  the 
Rhine,  at  the  head  of  sixty-thousand  Austrians,  had  taken 
Wiesenberg,  and  laid  all  lower  Alsace  under  contribution. 
The  king,  however,  depended  not  on  his  own  arms,  alone, 
for  the  defence  of  Alsace.  He  had  negotiated  a new  alliance, 
with  the  king  of  Prussia;  and  Frederick,  sensible  that  if  the 
queen  of  Hungary  should  again  acquire  the  ascendency, 
the  treaty  of  Breslaw  would  , prove  a feeble  barrier  against 
her  ambition,  once  more  penetrated  into  Bohemia,  and  ex- 
tended his  ravages  as  far  as  Moldaw. 

The  alarm  of  the  French  had  scarcely  subsided,  when 
they  were  seized  with  one  of  a different  nature;  which 
spread  consternation  throughout  the  whole  nation.  On  the 
eighth  of  August,  the  king  felt  some  symptoms  of  fever;  and, 
on  the  fourteenth,  was  declared  to  be  in  imminent  danger. 
The  intelligence  of  his  illness,  reached  Paris  in  the  middle 
of  the  night.  The  inhabitants  rose  from  their  beds,  and  ran 
about,  in  great  disorder,  without  knowing  whither  they  went. 
The  churches  were  opened,  though  at  midnight;  nor  did  the 
people  any  longer  regard  the  time  of  sleeping,  waking,  or 
eating.  All  Paris  seemed  distracted;  and  the  houses  of  the 
public  officers  were  surrounded,  by  a continual  crowd.  In 
many  of  the  churches,  the  priests,  who  read  prayers  for  the 
king’s  recovery,  interrupted  the  supplication  by  their  tears, 
and  the  people  responded  to  them  with  sobs  and  cries.  The 
courier  who  brought  the  news  of  the  king’s  recovery  to  Paris, 
on  the  nineteenth,  was  embraced,  and  almost  stifled,  by  the 
people.  They  kissed  his  horse,  and  led  him  about  in 
triumph.  When  Louis  was  informed  of  these  uncommon 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


£37 


transports,  lie  melted  into  tears,  and,  raising  himself  up,  in 
his  bed,  exclaimed— 44  What  a pleasure  it  is,  to  be  thus 
beloved!  What  have  I done,  to  deserve  it?5’ 

The  death  of  the  emperor  Charles  VII.,  in  the  ensuing 
year,  was  an  event  unfavourable  to  Louis.  His  son,  Maxi- 
milian Joseph,  concluded,  through  the  medium  of  the  king 
of  England,  a treaty  with  the  queen  of  Hungary;  which  es- 
tablished him  in  the  peaceable  possession  of  the  electorate 
of  Bavaria,  and  rejected  the  alliance  of  France,  which'  had 
proved  so  injurious  to  his  father;  and  the  court  of  Versailles 
nad,  soon  afterwards,  the  mortification  of  beholding  Francis 
of  Lorraine,  the  consort  of  the  queen  of  Hungary,  invested 
with  the  imperial  dignity,  at  Frankfort.  Yet  Louis  still 
obstinately  pursued  the  war.  Accompanied  by  the  dauphin, 
he  now  animated  the  troops,  by  his  presence.  Under  the 
command  of  marshal  Saxe,  they  laid  siege  to  Tournay,  one 
of  the  strongest  towns  in  the  Austrian  Netherlan  Is.  The 
duke  of  Cumberland,  at  the  head  of  the  combined  troops, 
marched  to  its  relief;  and  a memorable  battle  took  place,  on 
the  twelfth  of  May,  at  Fontenoy. 

The  king  never  showed  more  gaiety,  than  on  the  eve  of 
this  engagement.  The  conversation  ran  upon  battles,  at 
which  kings  had  been  present.  Louis  observed,  that,  since 
the  battle  of  Poictiers,  no  king  of  France  had  fought  in  com- 
pany with  his  son;  that  no  one  had  ever  gained  a signal 
victory  over  the  English,  and  that  he  hoped  to  have  that 
honour,  the  first.  In  the  morning,  he  was  awoke,  before 
any  of  his  officers.  At  four  o’clock,  he  himself  called  up 
count  D’Argenson,  secretary  of  war;  who  immediately  sent 
to  marshal  Saxe,  to  demand  his  last  orders.  The  marshal 
had  been,  for  some  time,  in  a deep  consumption.  He  was 
found  in  an  ozier  litter,  which  served  him  for  a bed;  and  in 
which  he  was  carried,  when  so  much  exhausted,  as  to  he 
obliged  to  quit  his  horse.  At  six,  in  the  morning,  the  can- 
nonading began.  The  English  attacked  Fontenoy,  twice; 
and  the  Dutch  presented  themselves  twice  before  Antoine. 
In  their  second  attack,  almost  a whole  squadron  of  the  latter 
having  been  mowed  down,  by  the  cannon,  they  never  after- 
wards rallied.  By  the  misconduct  of  general  Ingoldshy,  in 
neglecting  to  seize  a redoubt,  the  favourable  moment  was 
lost,  to  the  English  army.  The  duke  of  Cumberland,  how- 
ever, determined  to  pass  between  this  redoubt  and  Fontenoy. 
The  ground  was  steep:  it  was  necessary  to  clear  a Droken 


238 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


hollow  way,  and  he  was  obliged  to  inarch  between  two  fires 
The  enterprise  was  daring;  but  he  was  reduced  to  the  alter- 
natives, either  to  attempt  the  passage,  or  quit  the  field.  The 
English  and  Hanoverians  advanced  with  him,  drawing  then- 
cannon  themselves,  through  the.  foot-paths,  and  almost  with- 
out disordering  their  ranks.  Whole  companies  fell,  on  the 
right  and  left.  They  were  immediately  recruited,  and 
marched  on  fiercely,  having  six  pieces  of  artillery  in  their 
front,  and  six  also  in  the  middle  of  their  lines. 

They  had  now  approached  within  fifty  yards  of  the  French 
and  Swiss  guards.  The  English  officers  saluted  the  French 
officers,  by  pulling  off  their  hats.  The  count  de  Chabane, 
and  the  duke  de  Biron,  who  were  in  advance,  and  all  the 
other  French  officers,  returned  the  salute.  Lord  Charles 
Hay,  captain  of  the  English  guards,  cried  out,  4 4 Gentlemen 
of  the  French  guards,  fire. 55  The  count  D’Anteroche  replied, 
in  a loud  voice,  44  Gentlemen,  we  never  fire  first — fire  your- 
selves. 55 — The  English  gave  them  a running  fire,  by  which, 
nine  officers,  and  two-hundred-and-thirty-four  privates  were 
killed,  and  forty-four  of  the  former,  and  six-hundred-and- 
thirty  of  the  latter,  wounded.  Amongst  the  slain,  was  the 
duke  de  Grammont,  first  lieutenant  general,  and  nephew  of 
the  duke  de  Noailles.  The  remainder  of  the  guards  dis 
persed.  The  English  advanced  slowly,  as  if  performing  theii 
exercise;  the  majors,  with  their  canes,  levelling  the  soldiers5 
guns,  to  make  them  fire  low  and  straight.  They  broke  in 
upon  Fontenoy  and  the  redoubt.  Closing,  by  the  nature  of 
the  ground,  they  became  a long  and  dense  column,  impreg- 
nable, from  its  mass,  and  repulsed,  one  after  another,  every 
regiment  that  attacked  it. 

Seeing,  with  calm  courage,  the  greatness  of  the  danger, 
marshal  Saxe  sent  a message  to  the  king,  conjuring  him  to 
repass  the  bridge,  writh  the  dauphin;  and  assuring  him  that 
he  would  do  all  in  his  power  to  remedy  the  disorder. — 44  0!  I 
am  very  confident  that  he  will  perform  his  duty,55  replied  the 
King;  4 4 but  I will  remain  where  I am.55 

From  the  moment  that  the  French  and  the  Swiss  guards 
were  routed,  there  was  nothing  but  astonishment  and  con- 
fusion, throughout  the  French  army.  Marshal  Saxe  ordered 
the  cavalry  to  fall  upon  the  English.  The  count  D’Estrees 
undertook  the  charge;  but  their  efforts  produced  little  effect, 
against  a body  of  infantry,  so  united,  so  disciplined,  and  so 
intrepid,  and  who  kept  up  a constant  running  fire.  Marshal 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


239 


S'axe  was  in  the  midst  of  this.  He  was  so  weakened,  by  his 
disorder,  that  he  could  not  bear  a breast-plate:  he  wore  a 
sort  of  buckler,  made  of  several  folds  of  quilted  taftety, 
which  rested  upon  the  pommel  of  his  saddle.  On  this  occa- 
sion, he  threw  down  his  buckler,  and  flew  to  make  the  second 
line  of  the.  cavalry  advance,  against  the  assailing  column. 
All  the  iield-oflicers  were  in  motion.  The  assailants  march- 
ed over  the  dead  and  wounded  of  both  parties;  and  seemed 
to  make  one  single  impenetrable  corps,  of  about  fourteen- 
thousand  men. 

A great  number  of  the  cavalry  were  thrown  into  disorder, 
close  to  the  place  where  the  king  was,  with  his  son.  These 
two  princes  were  separated,  by  the  crowds  of  those  who  fled, 
and  threw  themselves  in  between  them.  Marshal  Saxe, 
though  quite  exhausted,  continued  still  on  horseback,  riding 
through  the  ranks,  in  the  midst  of  the  firing.  Every  attempt 
made  by  him,  to  penetrate  the  English  column,  was  repulsed. 
He  went  to  see  if  Fontenoy  still  held  out.  The  bullets  of  its 
defenders  were  all  spent,  and  they  returned  the  fire  of  the 
enemy,  only  with  powder.  But  the  English  infantry  were,  by 
this  time,  greatly  weakened.  They  were  even  astonished,  to 
find  themselves  m the  midst  of  the  French,  without  any  caval- 
ry: they  seemed  to  remain  immoveable,  and  no  longer  under 
orders;  but  they  displayed  a good  face,  and  appeared  masters 
of  the  field  of  battle.  Had  the  Dutch  passed,  as  ordered, 
between  the  redoubts  which  lay  towards  Fontenoy  and 
Antoine— had  they  given  proper  assistance  to  the  English — 
no  resource  had  been  left,  not  even  a retreat  for  the  French 
army,  nor,  probably,  for  the  king  and  the  dauphin.  The 
success  of  a last  attack,  was  uncertain.  Some  pieces  of  can- 
non were  at  length  brought  to  bear  against  the  enemy’s  front. 
The  regiment  of  Normandy  and  the  carbineers,  seconded  by 
the  Irish  troops,  penetrated  through  the  front  ranks  of  the 
column.  It  was  attacked,  simultaneously,  in  the  front,  and 
on  both  the  flanks.  In  seven  or  eight  minutes,  this  formi- 
dable corps  was  opened,  on  both  sides.  General  Ponson- 
by,  and  a great  number  of  other  British  officers,  were  killed. 
The  English  rallied,  but  were  obliged  to  retire;  and  quitted 
the  field  of  battle,  without  tumult  or  confusion,  and,  after  a 
most  glorious  display  of  military  prowess,  were  overcome 
with  honour. 

Tournay,  after  a siege  of  two  months,  opened  its  gates  to 
the  victorious  army;  and  the  example  was  followed  by  On- 


240 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


denarde,  Dendermonde,  Os  tend,  Nieuport,  and  the  principal 
fortified  places  through  Austrian  Flanders. 

The  success  of  the  house  of  Bourbon,  in  Italy,  and  of  the 
Prussian  monarch,  in  the  north  of  Europe-,  was  not  less 
rapid  and  decisive.  But  it  was  the  intention  of  the  sagacious 
Frederick,  to  protect,  not  to  aggrandize  the  Bourbons.  Feel- 
ing no  longer  any  dread  from  the  Austrian  power,  lie  con- 
cluded a second  treaty  with  the  queen  of  Hungary 5 which, 
on  acknowledging  the  validity  of  Maximilian’s  election, 
guaranteed  to  him.  the  possession  of  Silesia. 

France  was  astonished  at  the  repeated  desertions  of  so 
powerful  an  ally.  But  Louis  was  encouraged  to  persevere, 
by  the  projection  of  a new  enterprise;  which,  at  first,  pro- 
mised the  most  decisive  advantage.  This  was,  the  aiding 
of  the  house  of  Stuart,  in  remounting  the  British  throne. 
Though  frustrated  in  his  bold  attempt,  in  the  preceding  reign, 
the  chevalier  St.  George,  had  not  yet  yielded  to  despair:  he 
still  cherished  a sanguine  hope  of  wresting  the  British  sceptre 
from  the  family  of  Guelf;  and  now,  under  the  patronage  of 
the  king  of  France,  he  confided  his  fortunes  , to  his  son, 
Charles  Edward;  who,  having  arrived  at  Paris,  from  Rome, 
and  successfully  traversed  the  seas,  with  a single  vessel, 
landed,  with  a few  adherents,  on  the  coast  of  Scotland.  His 
career  was.  for  a while,  most  brilliant.  Having  marched 
to  Perth,  the  chevalier  was  there  proclaimed  king  of  Great 
Britain;  and,  on  the  seventeenth  of  September,  Charles  en- 
tered Edinburgh,  and  took  possession  of  the  royal  palace 
of  Holy-rood-House.  On  the  twenty-first,  with  an  inferior 
number  of  half-armed  highlanders,  he  attacked  the  royal  ar- 
my, near  Preston-Pans,  and  totally  defeated  them,  with  the 
loss  of  their  colours,  artillery,  tents,  baggage,  and  military 
chest.  He  soon  gained  possession  of  nearly  all  Scotland. 
The  number  of  his  followers  daily  increased;  he  received 
considerable  supplies  of  warlike  munitions  from  France;  and, 
with  a body  of  about  five- thousand  men,  made  an  irruption 
into  England;  invested  Carlisle,  which,  in  a few  days,  sur- 
rendered; and,  at  length,  entered  the  town  of  Derby,  distant 
only  one-hundred-and- twenty  miles  from  London.  In  the 
capital,  all  was  terror  and  suspense.  The  desperate  enter- 
prise seemed  almost  accomplished.  The  tyranny  of  the 
Stuarts  appeared  on  the  eve  of  being  revived.  But  the 
gallant  young  adventurer  was  not  supported,  in  England,  as 
he  had  expected:  his  officers  advised  him  to  return;  and,  on 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


24: 


df.  the  sixteenth  of  April,  he  encountered  the  duke  of 
174b*  Cumberland,  on  Culioden  Moor;  where,  after  a vi- 
gorous resistance,  he  was  defeated,  with  the  loss  of  twelve- 
hundred  men.  This  was  the  last  attempt,  in  favour  of  the 
Pretender.  The  cause  of  the  exiled  family,  here  expired. 
Having  dismissed  his  followers,  he  wandered,  in  wretched- 
ness and  solitude,  amongst  the  isles  and  mountains,  for  the 
space  of  five  months;  in  which  time,  he  underwent  a series 
of  hardships,  miseries,  and  dangers,  such  as  it  is  scarcely 
credible  that  a human  being  could  withstand.  At  length,  a 
privateer,  hired  by  some  Irish  adherents,  appeared  on  the 
coast;  on  board  of  which,  the  young  prince  embarked,  on  the 
twentieth  of  September  : and,  after  passing,  unseen,  during  a 
thick  fog,  through  a British  squadron,  and  being  chased  by  two 
ships  of  war,  he  arrived,  in  safety,  near  Morlaix,  in  France. 

The  game  of  war — the  favourite  pastime  of  kings 
' ' * • — -was  continued,  in  Italy,  and  the  Low  Countries, 
with  vacillating  success.  But,  at  sea,  the  losses  were  all  on 
the  side  of  France.  The  English  had  begun  to  exert  them- 
selves, on  that  element,  on  which  they  have  so  repeatedly 
triumphed.  The  marquis  de  la  Jonquire  yielded  ten  vessels 
of  war,  to  the  admirals  Anson  and  Warren;  and  L’Esten- 
deure,  six  ships  of  the  line,  to  admiral  Hawke. 

In  America,  the  people  of  New-England  had  taken  the 
island  of  Cape  Breton;  and  the  king  of  France,  while  he 
beheld  his  marine  annihilated,  and  his  commerce  ruined, 
was  alarmed,  by  the  lowering  of  a tempest,  in  a new  and  un- 
expected quarter.  Influenced  by  the  gold  of  England,  fifty 
thousand  Russians  prepared  to  add  new  horrors  to  the  storm 
of  war.  Louis,  therefore,  hastened  the  negotiations  for 
peace,  which  had  been  unsuccessfully  commenced,  at  Breda; 
and,  on  the  seventh  of  October,  a treaty  was  concluded,  at 
j Aix-la-Chapelle;  by  which,  Great  Britan,  France,  and 
Spain,  agreed  to  a mutual  restitution  of  their  con- 
quests; and  the  contracting  parties  guaranteed,  to  the  king 
of  Prussia,  the  dutchy  of  Silesia,  and  the  county  of  Glatz; 
which  Frederick  had  then  in  his  possession. 

The  war  which  had  so  long  afflicted  Europe,  was  suc- 
ceeded by  seven  years  of  peace;  which  short  interval  maybe 
considered,  as  the  most  prosperous  and  happy  period,  that 
Europe  had  ever  known.  Arts  and  letters  were  successfully 
cultivated;  manufactures  and  commerce  flourished;  and  the 
manners  of  society  assumed,  each  day,  a higher  polish. 


242 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


But  Louis,  who  had  consented  to  the  treaty  of  Aix-la-Cha- 
pelle,  only  to  restore  his  navy,  ceased  not,  during  the  season 
of  peace,  to  meditate  new  wars;  and  prepared  to  dispossess 
the  English  of  their  principal  settlements,  both  in  America 
and  the  East  Indies.  From  the  moment  that  the  treaty  of 
Aix-la-Chapelle  was  concluded,  Dupleix,  governor  of  Pon- 
dicherry, on  the  coast  of  Coromandel,  a man  active,  intelli- 
gent, and  enterprising,  conceived  the  design  of  advancing 
the  interest  of  the  French  East  India  Company,  by  acquiring, 
for  France,  a large  territorial  possession,  in  the  south  of  Asia. 
But  the  progress  of  the  French  had  awakened  the  jealousy 
of  the  East  India  Company  of  England.  An  attempt  of  M. 
Dupleix,  to  impose  a governor  or  nabob  upon  Arcot,  excited 
the  English  to  arms:  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Tritchenopoli, 
the  French  and  their  native  allies  were  finally  defeated,  by 
Colonel  Clive;  the  pretensions  of  Chunda-Saib,  whose  cause 
they  had  espoused,  were  extinguished,  in  his  blood;  his  rival, 
Mahommed  Ali,  was  established,  by  the  English,  on  the 
throne  of  Arcot;  M.  Dupleix  was  soon  afterwards  recalled; 
and  a cessation  of  arms  agreed  on,  by  the  hostile  powers. 

Meanwhile,  the  ambitious  hopes  of  Louis  were  flattered, 
by  the  insidious  enterprises  of  his  governors  in  North  Ameri- 
ca. Their  plan  was  to  unite,  by  a chain  of  forts,  the  two 
extensive  colonies  of  Canada  and  Louisiana;  and  to  confine 
the  English  to  that  narrow  tract,  which  lies  between  the  Al- 
leghany mountains  and  the  sea.  This  project  was  pursued 
with  ardour  and  judgment.  Forts  were  erected  along  the 
lakes,  which  communicate  with  the  river  St.  Lawrence,  and 
also  on  the  Ohio  and  the  Mississippi;  and  the  chain  was 
almost  completed,  when  the  English,  alarmed  at  those  rapid 
encroachments,  determined  to  unsheath  the  sword. 

The  execution  of  this  measure,  was  no  less  vigor- 
' * ous,  than  prompt.  The  British  cruizers  swept  the 

seas,  with  so  much  success,  that  above  three-hundred  trading 
vessels,  belonging  to  France,  with  more  than  eight-thousand 
seamen,  were  carried  into  the  ports  of  England. 

But,  from  the  great  superiority  of  his  land  forces,  Louis 
still  cherished  the  hope  of  accomplishing  his  gigantic  project. 
General  Braddock,  who  had  been  intrusted  with  the  chief 
command  of  the  British  and  colonial  troops,  in  America,  had 
been  allured,  by  the  French  and  Indians,  into  an  ambuscade, 
within  a few  miles  of  one  of  the  new  works,  called  Fort  du 
Quesne;  (now  Pittsburg;)  where  he  expiated  his  rashness 


1 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE.  243 

with  his  life;  and  his  whole  force,  of  twelve-hundred  men, 
would  have  fallen  victims  to  his  inexperience  of  savage  war- 
fare, had  not  the  survivors  been  withdrawn,  by  the  superior 
skill  and  coolness  of  colonel  Washington;  who,  on  that 
occasion,  acted  as  aid-de-camp  to  the  general,  and  leader  of 
the  Virginia  troops. 

On  the  banks  of  lake  George,  Dieskau,  who  commanded 
the  French  forces,  in  America,  with  a detachment  of  two- 
thousand  men,  was  exposed  to  a similar  fate:  yet  France 
still  maintained,  on  that  continent,  her  ascendency,  and  Eng- 
land was  reduced  to  wage  a feeble  and  defensive  war. 

Numerous  bodies  of  troops,  drawn,  by  Louis,  towards 
the  seacoast,  continually  alarmed  the  opposite  shores  of 
England.  These  served  to  cover  the  secret  intentions  ot 
the  French,  who  aspired  to  the  conquest  of  Minorca;  an 
island  in  the  Mediterranean,  formerly  wrested,  by  Great 
Britain,  from  the  crown  of  Spain.  The  armament,  for  that 
purpose,  consisted  of  fifteen -thou sand  land-forces,  comman- 
ded by  the  duke  of  Richelieu;  with  twelve  ships  of  the  line 
and  five  frigates,  under  the  marquis  Gallisoniere.  The 
troops  were  disembarked,  and  immediately  invested  the 
castle  of  St.  Philip,  which  commands  the  town  and  harbour 
of  Mahon,  The  English  had  detached  admiral  Byng,  to 
the  relief  of  the  island,  with  a squadron  equal  to  that  of 
France;  and  Gallisoniere  soon  afterwards  engaged  the  British 
admiral,  in  an  indecisive  action.  The  former  returned,  to 
block  up  the  port  of  Mahon';  the  latter  withdrew  to  Gib- 
raltar; and,  on  his  recall  to  England,  expiated,  with  his  life, 
the  stain  which  his  cowardice  had  fixed  on  the  naval  glory 
of  his  country;  while  the  garrison  of  St.  Philip,  deserted,  in 
the  time  of  their  distress,  and  destitute  of  hope,  surrendered, 
after  a siege  of  nine  weeks;  and  the  island  of  Minorca,  sub- 
mitted to  the  dominion  of  France. 

The  satisfaction  afforded  to  Louis,  by  this  acqui- 
sition, was  allayed  by  domestic  dissensions,  and  also 
by  an  attempt  against  his  life.  Francis  Damiens,  an  un- 
happy wretch,  whose  sullen  mind  was  inflamed  by  the  dis- 
putes between  the  king  and  the  parliament,  relative  to 
religion,  embraced  the  desperate  resolution  of  assassinating 
his  sovereign.  In  the  dusk  of  the  evening,  as  the  king  was 
preparing  to  enter  his  coach,  he  was  suddenly  wounded, 
though  slightly,  between  the  ribs,  in  the  presence  of  his  son, 
and  in  the  midst  of  his  guards.  The  daring  assassin  had 


£44 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


mingled  with  the  crowd  of  courtiers,  but  was  instantly  be- 
trayed, by  his  distracted  countenance.  In  his  frantic  and 
incoherent  declarations,  he  persisted,  during  the  most  exqui- 
site tortures;  and,  after  human  ingenuity  had  been  exhausted, 
in  devising  new  modes  of  torment,  his  judges  consigned  him 
to  a death,  the  inhumanity  of  which  is  increased  by  the  evident 
madness  that  stimulated  him  to  the  fatal  act. 

66 I have  heard  it  said,”  relates  Madame  du  Hausset,*  in 
her  private  memoirs,  “that  the  king  proposed  having  Da- 
miens shut  up  in  a dungeon,  for  life;  but  that  the  horrid 
nature  of  the  crime,  made  the  judges  insist  upon  his  suffer- 
ing all  the  tortures  inflicted  upon  similar  occasions.  Great 
numbers,  many  of  them  women,  had  the  barbarous  curiosity 

to  witness  the  execution;  amongst  others,  Madame  de  P , 

a very  beautiful  woman,  and  the  wife  of  a farmer  general. 
She  hired  two  places,  at  a window,  for  twelve  louis,  and 
played  a game  of  cards  in  the  room,  while  waiting  for  the 
execution  to  begin;  in  which  way,  I have  been  told,  that  she, 
and  others,  thought  to  pay  their  court  to  the  king,  and  sig- 
nalize their  attachment  to  his  person. 99 

Louis  still  persisted  in  his  resolution  of  attacking  the  elec- 
toral dominions  of  the  king  of  England.  The  duke  of 
Cumberland  was  compelled,  by  the  marquis  d’Estrees,  at 
the  head  of  superior  numbers,  to  retire  behind  the  Weser; 
and  was  afterwards  driven,  by  the  duke  of  Richelieu,  under 
the  walls  of  Stade.  Surrounded,  on  every  side,  he  was 
there  reduced  to  the  necessity  of  signing  the  singular  con- 
vention of  Closter-Seven;  by  which,  an  army  of  thirty-eight- 
thousand  Hanoverians,  Hessians,  and  other  troops,  in  the 
pay  of  his  Britannic  majesty,  was  dissolved,  and  distributed 
into  different  quarters  of  cantonment,  without  being  disarm- 
ed, or  considered  prisoners  of  tvar. 

With  the  capitulation  of  Closter-Seven,  the  fortune  of 
France  expired;  and  that  event,  which  promised  the  most 
brilliant  advantage,  was  succeeded  by  live  years  of  con- 
tinual defeat.  In  Hanover,  the  rapacity  of  the  duke  of 
Richelieu  exhausted  the  subjected  country.  A demand, 
from  the  court  of  France,  of  the  arms  of  those  troops  who 
had  capitulated,  aroused  their  indignation,  and  they  assem- 
bled, from  their  several  cantonments,  under  prince  Ferdi- 
nand of  Brunswick;  whom  the  king  of  England  had  invested 

* Lady’s  maid  to  Madame  de  Pampadour,  the  celebrated  mistress 
of  Louis  XV. 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


245 


with  the  chief  command  of  his  electoral  forces.  Dispersed 
and  unprepared,  the  French  were  successively  expelled  from 
Otterberg,  Bremen,  and  Verdun;  and  the  duke  of  Richelieu, 
better  qualified  to  shine  at  court,  than  in  the  field,  with  the 
wretched  remnant  of  his  once  victorious  army,  repassed, 
with  difficulty,  the  Rhine,  before  a body  of  men  whom  he 
had  so  lately  vanquished.  Marshal  cle  Contades,  also,  was 
signally  overthrown,  by  prince  Ferdinand,  at  Minden.  The 
pride  of  France  was  completely  humbled.  Pressed  on  every 
side,  the  court  of  Versailles  implored  the  aid  of  the  kindred 
crown  of  Spain;  and  induced  the  reigning  monarch,  Charles 
III.,  son  of  Philip  V.,  to  sign  the  celebrated  family  com- 
pact; an  alliance,  which,  with  the  single  exception  of  the 
American  trade,  naturalized,  in  the  dominions  of  the  house 
of  Bourbon,  the  subjects  of  each  crown;  and  stipulated  that 
the  kings  of  France  and  Spain  should  look  upon  every  power 
as  the  enemy  of  both,  which  became  the  enemy  of  either. 

Yet,  the  assistance  of  Spain  was  feeble  and  inadequate. 
Louis  was  still  doomed  to  witness  the  unavailing  slaugh- 
ter of  his  subjects,  and  the  curtailment  of  his  empire.  Belle- 
isle,  an  island  situated  between  Port-Louis  and  the  mouth 
of  the  Loire,  was  reduced,  by  an  armament  from  England: 
Chandernagore,  also,  a settlement  on  the  banks  of  the  Gan- 
ges, experienced  the  same  fate;  and  general  Lally,  driven 
from  the  walls  of  Madras,  was  reduced  to  seek  shelter 
within  the  fortifications  of  Pondicherry;  which  place,  the 
last  possession,  of  any  importance,  remaining  to  the  French, 
on  the  coast  of  Coromandel,  that  officer  was,  after  a gallant 
resistance,  compelled,  by  famine,  to  surrender. 

Nor  were  the  arms  of  France  more  fortunate  in  the  west- 
ern hemisphere.  Louisburg,  garrisoned  by  nearly  three- 
thousand  troops,  under  the  command  of  the  chevalier 
Drucourt,  being  attacked  by  admiral  Boscawen,  and  the 
generals  Amherst  and  Wolfe,  he  was  at  last  under  the  ne- 
cessity of  surrendering,  with  his  whole  garrison;  and  the 
island  of  Cape  Breton,  shared  the  fate  of  its  capital.  The 
lorts  of  Ticonderoga,  Crown-point,  and  Niagara,  soon  after- 
wards lowered  their  banners;  the  British  standard  was  at 
length  seen  proudly  waving  over  the  lofty  walls  of 
Quebec;  where  the  gallant  general  W olfe  fell,  lament- 
ed by  his  admiring  country;  and  the  marquis  de  Montcalm, 
after  displaying  equal  skill  and  courage,  perished  on  the 
field,  with  above  a thousand  of  his  bravest  men.  With  the 
x 2 


£46 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE, 


capital,  tne  whole  province  of  Canada,  was  soon  transferred 
to  the  invaders.  Of  all  her  settlements  in  North  America, 
the  town  of  New-Orleans,  and  a few  plantations  on  the  Mis- 
sissippi, alone  remained,  to  France;  while,  in  the  West-In- 
1762  ^ies,  ^ie  Power^u^  armaments  of  the  English  wrested 
from  her  the  islands  of  Guadaloupe  and  Martirvico ; 
in  Africa,  she  was  driven  from  her  forts  and  factories  on  the 
river  Senegal:  and  afterwards,  the  grandeur  and  prosperity 
of  the  house  of  Bourbon,  were  shaken,  to  their  very  base,  by 
the  storming  of  the  Havana — the  principal  seaport  in  the  is- 
land of  Cuba,  the  key  of  the  gulf  of  Mexico,  and  the  centre 
of  the  Spanish  trade  and  navigation  in  the  new  world. 

But,  it  was  at  sea,  that  the  house  of  Bourbon  beheld  its 
lofty  hopes  finally  overwhelmed.  The  marquis  du  Quesne, 
M.  de  la  Clue,  and  M.  de  Conflans,  were  respectively  con- 
strained to  yield  to  the  superior  skill  of  admirals  Osborne, 
Boscawen,  and  Hawke.  So  repeated  disasters  humbled  the 
pride  of  Louis.  His  finances  were  exhausted,  his  commerce 
at  a stand,  his  marine  destroyed.  Happily  for  him,  the  Eng- 
lish ministry  were  equally  disposed  for  peace.  William 
Pitt,  (better  known,  subsequently,  as  the  earl  of  Chatham) 
the  ablest  politician  in  Europe,  having  been  opposed,  in  the 
council,  by  his  colleagues,  had  resigned  the  helm  of  state; 
and  the  earl  of  Bute,  unequal  to  fulfil  the  duties  of  pilot, 
amidst  the  storms  of  war,  listened,  with  readiness,  to  the 
proposals  of  the  court  of  Versailles;  and  plenipotentiaries 
were  deputed,  to  assemble  at  Fontainbleau.  The  great 
outlines  of  the  treaty,  were  soon  adjusted;  as  both  parties 
agreed  to  withdraw,  entirely,  from  the  German  war,  and 
mutually  to  restore  the  places  which  they  had  taken.  But 
France  ceded  to  Great  Britain,  Canada;  reserving  the  right 
of  fishing  on  the  banks  of  Newfoundland;  and  retaining  the 
small  islands  of  St.  Pierre  and  Miquelon.  The  king  of 
Prussia  soon  afterwards  concluded  a treaty  with  the  empress- 
queen;  by  which,  all  the.  conquests,  on  both  sides,  were  re- 
stored; and,  after  a tedious  and  bloody  war,  the  tranquillity 
of  Europe  was,  once  more,  happily  re-established. 

Escaped  from  the  fury  of  the  foreign  tempest,  it  might 
reasonably  have  been  expected,  that  the  caution  and  vigilance 
of  Louis  would  have  been  exerted,  to  avoid  the  rage  of  do- 
mestic storms.  But  adversity  had  not  taught  him  modera- 
tion. His  reign  was  destined  to  prove  equally  inimical  to 
the  happiness  of  his  people,  and  to  the  despotic  power  of  his 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE- 


£47 


successor.  The  times  had  become  enlightened:  men,  in  that 
philosophic  age,  had  discovered  that  the  divine  right  of  kings 
was  but  a fable.  Their  own  rights  were  ascertained,  declared 
loudly  to  the  world,  and  maintained,  with  a boldness  and  re- 
solution, which  no  sophistry,  on  the  part  of  the  court,  could 
overturn,  no  threats  or  imprisonment  restrain.  The  parlia- 
ments of  France,  particularly  those  of  Paris  and  Rouen, 
offered  as  strenuous  opposition  to  the  tyranny  of  Louis  XV., 
as  the  commoners  of  England  had  displayed,  against  the 
illegal  measures  of  Charles  I.  ; and  the  political  horizon 
began  already  to  be  darkened,  with  those  clouds,  which 
burst,  with  accumulated  violence,  on  the  head,  and  shook, 
to  its  very  foundation,  the  throne  of  his  grandson. 

“The  subject,”  says  the  parliament  of  Rouen,  in  a re- 
monstrance addressed  to  the  king,  “has  a right  to  the  easiest 
and  least  burthensome  mode  of  contributing  to  the  wants  of 
the  state.  This  right,  which  is  founded  in  nature,  belongs 
to  every  nation  in  the  world,  whatever  may  be  its  form  of 
government:  it  is  principally  the  right  of  the  Franks , and, 
in  a more  especial  manner,  of  the  province  of  Normandy. 
The  Norman  charter  furnishes,  on  this  head,  the  most 
respectable  monuments  of  our  national  immunities.  We 
there  find,  that  no  tax  can  be  laid  on  your  subjects  of  this 
province,  unless  agreed  to,  in  the  assembly  of  the  three  es- 
tates. This  charter  subsists,  in  its  full  force:  it  makes  a part 
of  your  people’s  rights,  which  you  swore  to  maintain,  before 
Him,  by  whom  kings  reign.” 

Amidst  these  convulsions,  the  dauphin  of  France  expired, 
in  the  thirty-seventh  year  of  his  age.  By  his  second  mar- 
riage, with  Maria  Josepha,  of  Saxony,  he  had  three  sons,  the 
duke  of  Berri,  the  count  of  Provence,  and  the  count  of 
Artois,  and  also  two  daughters;  all  of  whom  survived  him. 
1769  ^*e  next  subject,  requiring  notice,  is  the  enter- 

prise of  Louis  against  Corsica.  The  people  of  this 
island  had  resisted,  with  manly  firmness,  the  oppressive 
councils  of  the  Genoese,  who  claimed  the  sovereignty  of  the 
island,  by  right  of  conquest.  But  Genoa,  unable  to  support 
her  pretensions,  transferred  them,  on  certain  conditions,  to 
France.  To  execute  his  engagements,  twenty  battalions  of 
French  troops  were  landed  in  Corsica;  and  the  inhabitants, 
who  had  summoned  Paoli,  one  of  their  principal  chiefs,  to 
the  supreme  government  of  the  island,  determined  to  defend 
their  liberties,  to  the  utmost  of  their  strength.  A sharp  and 


24  B 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


bloody  war  was  carried  on,  in  all  the  fastnesses  and  moun- 
tainous parts  of  the  island ; and  it  was  not  till  after  Louis 
had  fatally  experienced,  in  two  successive  campaigns,  the 
enthusiastic  courage  which  animates  the  champions  of  free- 
dom, that  he  overwhelmed,  by  his  superior  numbers,  this 
unfortunate  people,  and,  with  the  loss  of  several  thousand 
of  his  bravest  troops,  only  extended  his  dominion  over  a 
rugged  and  unproductive  island. 

In  the  following  year,  the  dauphin  (grandson  of  the 
i * king  of  France)  received  the  hand  of  Maria  Antoi- 
nette, a daughter  of  Maria  Theresa,  and  sister  to  the  emperor 
of  Germany.  But  even  these  nuptials,  which  promised  to 
cement  the  alliance  of  France  with  the  house  of  Austria,  were 
attended  with  events  the  most  inauspicious.  The  crowd 
that  hastened  to  be  spectators  of  the  fire-works,  displayed,  on 
this  occasion,  at  Paris,  tumultuously  pressed  upon  each 
other:  those  who  were  foremost,  sunk  down,  by  the  weight 
of  increasing  numbers,  behind;  and  it  is  supposed  that  about 
a thousand  persons  perished,  in  the  dreadful  confusion,  be- 
sides double  that  number,  who  were  miserably  bruised  and 
maimed. 

1 7r4  A reign  of  fifty-nine  years,  was  now  hastening  to 
a close.  Being  attacked  by  the  small-pox,  the  igno- 
rance of  his  physicians  co-operated  with  the  virulence  of  the 
disease;  and,  on  the  tenth  of  May,  in  eight  days  after  its 
first  appearance,  the  French  monarch  resigned  his  life,  in 
the  sixty-fifth  year  of  his  age. 

Such,  was  the  fate  of  Louis  XV.  The  appellation  of  « well- 
beloved,”  which  had  been  conferred  upon  him,  in  the  early 
part  of  his  career,  was  effaced,  by  thirty  years  of  rapacity, 
profusion,  and  lascivious  excess.  His  example  had  loosened 
the  bands  of  morality,  his  prodigality  had  exhausted  the  cre- 
dit and  resources  of  the  country,  and  his  wanton  pride  had 
trampled  upon  the  remnant  of  the  constitution.  In  his  ex- 
terior, nature  had  been  kind  to  him.  He  resembled  his 
grandfather,  Louis  XIV.,  in  the  strength  and  agility  of  his 
frame,  and  in  his  portly  and  majestic  stature. 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


249 


CHAPTER  VI. 

LOUIS  XVI. 

Revolution. “Destruction  of  the  Bastile. 

1774— 1 792. 

LOUIS  XVI.  succeeded  to  the  throne  of  his  grandfather, 
at  the  age  of  twenty.  In  the  exercise  of  the  royal  authority, 
hisr  first  acts  induced  a lively  expectation  of  a happy  reign. 
He  remitted  the  tribute  which  was  expected  on  the  accession 
of  a new  monarch;  he  removed  from  office  those  persons 
whose  inability  or  oppressive  conduct,  had  rendered  them 
disagreeable  to  the  nation;  and  recalled  the  count  de  Mau re- 
pas,  who  had  formerly  occupied  the  marine  department,  but 
who,  for  three-and -twenty  years,  had  been  banished  from  the 
court.  This  statesman,  however,  now  more  than  seventy 
years  of  age,  declined  the  resumption  of  his  former  station; 
and,  with  a seat  in  the  privy  council,  without  any  particular 
office,  influenced  the  most  important  concerns  of  govern- 
ment. The  seals  were  delivered  to  M.  Meromesnil,  presi- 
dent of  the  parliament  of  Rouen;  the  count  de  Vergenncs 
was  called  to  preside  over  the  foreign  department,  Males- 
herbes  became  counsellor  of  state,  and  the  count  de  Muy, 
afterwards  created  a mareschal,  was  nominated  secretary 
of  war. 

Following  the  dictates  of  his  own  beneficence,  Louis  re- 
formed the  penal  code  of  France,  which  then  savoured  of 
the  barbarous  times  in  which  it  had  originated:  he  abolished 
the  use  of  torture;  and  restored  to  freedom,  with  a few  ex- 
ceptions, those  prisoners  of  state,  the  mournful  inhabitants 
of  the  Bastile  and  other  fortresses,  who  had  been  immured 
through  the  jealousy  of  the  preceding  monarch. 

Several  schemes  of  economy  were,  at  the  same  time,  in- 
troduced. The  price  of  bread,  which  had  risen  to  an 
excessive  height,  was,  by  the  prudent  management  of  the 
ministry,  reduced;  and  those,  who,  in  the  confusion  of  the 
last  reign,  had  largely  speculated  in  corn,  were  now  per- 
suaded to  bring  it  into  market.  Such  attentions  could  not 
fail  to  command  the  gratitude  of  the  populace;  and,  when- 
ever the  king  appeared  in  public,  he  was  greeted  with  their 
reclamations.  Yet,  one  circumstance  was  wanting,  toesta- 


250 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


blish  the  popularity  of  Louis.  France  still  sighed  for  the 
restoration  of  her  ancient  parliaments;  and,  when  the  duke 
of  Orleans,  and  his  son,  the  duke  of  Chartres,  joined  in  the 
public  sentiment,  upon  this  important  question,  they  were 
exiled  from  the  royal  presence.  The  people  were  stunned, 
by  this  imprudent  stroke.  They  considered  the  two  dukes 
as  victims  to  the  public  good.  When  Louis  next  presented 
himself  to  the  inhabitants  of  Paris,  instead  of  the  usual 
marks  of  applause,  he  was  received  with  awful  silence;  and 
the  young  monarch  soon  perceived,  that  he  could  preserve 
the  affections  of  his  subjects,  only  by  a ready  compliance 
with  their  wishes.  The  exiled  princes  were  recalled;  and 
the  king  commanded  an  edict  to  be  registered,  which  re- 
established the  ancient  parliaments,  and  for  ever  suppressed 
the  new.  But  Louis  viewed  the  proceedings  of  these  popular 
assemblies,  with  a jealous  eye.  He  endeavoured  still  to  pre- 
serve the  royal  authority,  undiminished;  and  was  equally 
averse,  with  his  predecessor,  to  grant  them  any  power,  that 
could  possibly  curtail  his  own. 

The  death  of  pope  Ganganelli,  Clement  XIV.  who  had 
filled  the  apostolic  chair  with  great  prudence  and  modera- 
tion, was  an  event  generally  regretted,  by  the  countries 
which  yet  acknowledged  the  dominion  of  the  holy  see.  His 
pontificate  had  been  rendered  memorable,  by  the  abolition 
of  the  society  of  Jesuits;  and  a vague  and  idle  rumour  had 
pervaded  Europe,  that  he  had  fallen  a sacrifice  to  the  effects 
of  poison.  The  vacant  dignity  was  warmly  contested.  It 
was  not  until  the  ensuing  year,  that  the  electoral  conclave 
fixed  the  tiara  upon  the  head  of  John  Angelo  Braschi,  a na- 
tive of  Ravenna;  who  assumed  the  name  of  Pius  VI. 

The  elevation  of  M.  Turgot,  to  the  chief  direction 
' * of  the  finances,  afforded  no  small  share  of  discontent, 

to  the  farmers  general  of  the  taxes.  Endued  with  integrity 
and  ability,  that  minister  had  delivered  the  commerce  of 
grain  from  many  vexatious  restrictions;  but  a scarcity  of 
corn  happening  to  coincide  with  the  moment  of  his  regula- 
tions, tnose  effects,  which  arose  from  dearth,  were  ascribed 
to  the  operation  of  his  measures;  and  the  people,  incited  by 
his  enemies,  tumultuously  assembled,  in  large  and  formidable 
bodies.  They  insulted  the  magistrates,  plundered  the 
houses,  and  not  only  destroyed  large  quantities  of  corn  and 
flour,  but  increased  the  general  distress,  by  deterring  the 
venders  of  provisions  from  bringing  them  to  market.  Their 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


251 


rage  became  exasperated,  by  the  destruction  whicn  they 
themselves  produced.  To  check  their  progress,  it  was  ne- 
cessary to  command  the  assistance  of  regular  troops;  yet, 
the  hungry  insurgents  for  sometime  maintained  their  ground, 
against  the  disciplined  valour  of  their  opponents;  and  nearly 
five-hundred  of  those  wretches  had  fallen,  before  they  relin- 
quished the  unequal  conflict. 

The  death  of  the  mareschal  de  Muy,  who  had  filled  the 
office  of  secretary  of  war,  was  succeeded  by  the  appointment, 
to  that  department,  of  the  count  de  St.  Germain;  a noble- 
man, who,  during  the  last  war,  had  enjoyed  a high  command 
in  the  north.  He  now  allowed  but  a short  time  to  elapse, 
before  he  distinguished  his  administration  by  the  bold  and 
energetic  measure  of  disbanding  the  Mousquetaires;  a corps 
instituted  for  the  protection  of  the  royal  person;  which, 
being  composed  of  young  men  of  the  most  illustrious  extrac- 
tion, too  frequently  insulted  the  humbler  class  of  citizens, 
by  their  overbearing  spirit.  The  naval  department  was  in- 
spected, with  equal  diligence  and  care.  When  the  admi- 
nistration of  the  duke  de  Choiseul  expired,  and  his  cousin, 
the  duke  de  Praslin,  was  dismissed  from  superintending  the 
marine,  the  appointment  of  M.  de  Sartine,  to  this  depart- 
ment, did  honour  to  the  penetration  of  the  king.  One 
appointment  more  was  necessary,  to  display  the  royal  mind 
free  from  prejudice,  and  open  to  the  impression  of  intrinsic 
merit.  M.  Turgot,  though  upright  and  attentive  to  his  duties* 
had  not  been  fortunate  in  commanding  the  public  confidence. 
James  Necker,  a native  of  Geneva — by  birth,  a foreigner, 
and  by  religion  a protestant — was  called  to  preside  over  the 
treasury;  and  trusted  with  the  sole  management  of  the  fiscal 
concerns  of  France.  His  talents  were  assiduously  employed, 
to  deserve  applause;  and,  under  his  direction,  a reform  was 
introduced,  into  every  department  of  the  revenue. 

With  equal  zeal,  to  extend  the  dominion  of  science, 
Louis  fitted  out  several  vessels,  for  astronomical  discoveries. 
The  chevalier  de  Borda  was  instructed  to  ascertain  the  ex- 
act position  of  the  Canary  Islands,  and  the  Cape  de  Verds, 
and  the  different  degrees  of  the  coast  of  Africa,  from  Cape 
Spartel,  to  the  island  of  Goree:  the  chevalier  Grenier,  who 
had  traversed  the  Indian  seas  to  improve  the  charts  and 
correct  the  errors,  by  which  former  navigators  had  been 
misled,  was  liberally  rewarded,  by  a monarch,  who  aspired 
to  immortalize  his  reign,  by  expeditions  beneficial  to  mankind. 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


The  attention  of  the  French  nation,  had  gradually  been 
diverted  from  domestic  affairs,  and  was  at  length  fixed  solely 
upon  occurrences  in  the  western  hemisphere.  Aroused 
by  the  attempts  of  the  parent  country,  to  exercise  over  her 
North  American  plantations  a legislative  authority,  incon- 
sistent with  their  chartered  rights,  Thirteen  of  the  British 
colonies  had  boldly  resisted  the  usurpation,  and  severed  the 
maternal  tie.  A favourable  opportunity  seemed  thus  pre- 
sented, to  enable  France  to  dismember  the  empire  of  her 
powerful  rival,  and  regain  those  provinces  in  America,  which 
had  been  conquered  from  her  by  Great  Britain.  The  colo- 
nists awakened  the  latent  desires  of  Louis,  in  regard  to  their 
repossession.  He  opened  a willing,  though  a cautious  ear, 
to  their  application  for  assistance.  Fearful  that  the  opposi- 
tion of  the  colonial  patriots,  would  be  ineffectual,  against  the 
veteran  army  and  powerful  navy,  the  awakened  pride  and 
inexhaustible  resources  of  her  ancient  rival,  the  aid  afforded 
them,  by  France,  was,  for  a long  time,  clandestine  in  its 
character,  and  trifling  in  its  extent.  At  the  head  of  the 
colonial  armies,  was  placed  colonel  Washington;  a gentle- 
man possessed  of  large  estates,  in  Virginia;  and  who,  by  his 
fortitude  and  resolution,  integrity  and  able  conduct  as  a sol- 
dier, justified  the  wisdom  of  the  appointment,  and  added  a 
never-fading  wreath,  to  the  laurels,  already  won  by  him, 
in  repelling  the  inroads  of  savage  war. 

On  the  fourth  of  July,  1776,  the  colonies  declared  their 
Independence,  and  assumed  the  title  of  the  Thirteen  United 
States.  Three  agents  from  the  confederation,  Silas  Deane, 
Benjamin  Franklin,  and  Arthur  Lee,  had  successively  ar- 
rived at  Paris;  and,  though  all  audience  was  denied  them, 
in  a public  capacity,  still  they  were  privately  encouraged 
to  hope,  that  France  only  waited  for  a proper  opportunity, 
to  vindicate,  in  arms,  their  freedom  and  independence. 
French  officers  and  engineers,  with  the  connivance  of  go- 
vernment, entered  into  the  patriotic  service;  and  the  marquis, 
de  la  Fayette,  a young  nobleman  of  affluent  fortune,  and 
nearly  allied  to  the  illustrious  house  of  Noailles,  now  only 
in  his  nineteenth  year,  though  positively  interdicted  by  his 
sovereign,  hired  a frigate,  and,  impatient  to  join*  the  stan- 
dard of  liberty,  steered  towards  America;  where  he  was 
received  with  open  arms,  appointed  to  a principal  command, 
and  soon  afterwards,  at  the  Brandywine,  under  the  banners 
of  the  immortal  Washington,  shed  his  first  blood,  in  a cause, 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


253 


to  the  successful  termination  of  which,  in  the  course  of  a 
long  and  sanguinary  war,  he  contributed  most  important 
aid.  But,  neither  the  declaration  of  their  independence,  in 
the  council,  nor  the  heroic  obstinacy  with  which  it  was  as- 
serted in  the  field,  was  sufficient,  for  a long  time,  to  alter 
the  timid  policy  of  France.  The  capture,  by  the  American 
commander-in-chief,  of  a thousand  Hessian  troops,  at  Tren- 
ton, though  a brilliant,  was  not  a paralyzing  stroke  given  to 
the  British  arms.  The  court  of  Versailles  awaited,  with 
most  patient  observation,  the  crisis  of  the  important  strug- 
gle. That  crisis  at  length  arrived.  Saratoga,  where  the 
flower  of  the  royal  forces,  under  Burgoyne,  surrendered  to 
general  Gates,  was  the  scene  of  an  achievement,  which 
seemed  to  place  the  success  of  the  American  congress  be- 
yond a doubt.  The  intelligence  of  this  signal  victory,  was 
hailed,  by  the  French  ministers,  with  joy.  Canada  seemed 
again  united  to  the  Gallic  crown.  All  hesitation,  with  re- 
gard to  their  interference,  was  now  removed;  and  the  queen 
who  had  long  seconded  the  applications  of  the  American 
agents,  espoused  their  cause,  with  increasing  ardour,  and 
with  less  reserve. 

On  the  sixth  of  February,  a treaty  was  signed,  by 
/ ' * the  United  States  and  Louis,  on  the  basis  of  a perfect 
reciprocity  of  interest.  The  French  monarch  guaranteed 
their  commerce  and  independence;  and  any  other  powers, 
that  might  have  received  injuries  from  England,  were  in- 
vited to  join  in  the  alliance. 

But,  in  this  treaty  with  the  revolted  provinces,  other  coun- 
sels prevailed,  over  the  private  opinion  of  Louis.  Whether 
dreading  the  expense  of  a ruinous  war,  whether  alarmed 
already  at  the  progress  of  democratic  principles,  or  desirous 
of  observing  good  faith  with  England,  he  considered  that 
there  ought  to  be  a stronger  motive  for  war,  than  barely  the 
opportunity  of  waging  it  with  success: — he,  therefore, 
almost  alone,  opposed  a measure,  which  was  finally  demon 
strated  to  be  a great  political  error,  as  .regarded  the  dignity 
and  safety  of  his  crown. 

The  recall  of  lord  Stormont,  the  English  ambassador  at 
Versailles,  was  the,  signal  for  the  commencement  of  hostili- 
ties, by  Great  Britain,  against  France. 

But  Louis  had  already  prepared  for  this  event.  In  the 
month  of  April,  the  count  d’Estaign,  who,  during  the  course 
it  the  last  war,  had,  in  the  East  Indies,  maintained  the 
Y 


£54 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


glory  of  his  country,  sailed,  from  Toulon,  for  the  American 
coast,  with  twelve  ships  of  the  line,  and  several  frigates. 
On  board  the  fleet,  were  eight-hundred  soldiers;  and  also 
M.  Gerard,  appointed  minister  plenipotentiary  to  the  Uni- 
ted States. 

From  the  continent  of  America,  the  flame  of  war  was 
rapidly  communicated  to  the  West  India  Islands.  Domi- 
nica was  quickly  taken,  from  the  British,  by  the  marquis 
of  Bouille;  St.  Vincents,  by  the  chevalier  Rumain;  Grenada, 
by  the  count  d’Estaign.  But  the  English  arms,  on  the  other 
hand,  were  not  without  a proportionate  share  of  success. 
St.  Lucia  was  wrested  from  the  dominion  of  France;  D’Es- 
taign  experienced  a severe  repulse,  and  was  wounded,  at 
Savannah;  and,  in  the  East  Indies,  his  country  was  again 
stripped  of  all  her  possessions,  except  the  islands  of  Mauri- 
tius and  Bourbon. 

1 r q But,  for  these  reverses,  France  received  ample  com- 
' ' * pensation,  in  her  negotiations,  in  Europe.  Aroused 
from  the  neutrality,  hitherto  observed  by  him,  the  Spanish 
monarch  now  resolved  to  fulfil  the  conditions  of  the  cele- 
brated 66 family  compact;”  and,  after  having  presented  a 
memorial  to  the  court  of  St.  James,  in  which  were  enume- 
rated a hundred  insults,  alleged  to  have  been  offered ito  his 
sovereign,  by  England,  his  ambassador  quitted  London,  and 
returned  to  Spain, 

The  combined  navies  of  the  house  of  Bourbon,  presented 
a most  formidable  sight.  Sixty-six  vessels  of  the  line,  en- 
tered the  British  channel,  scattering  terror  and  dismay 
throughout  the  English  coasts;  and,  to  increase  the  embar- 
rassment of  her  enemy,  Spain,  with  a considerable  army, 
formed  the  siege  of  Gibraltar;  a fortress  of  Andalusia,  which, 
situated  on  a rock,  and  occupied  by  the  British,  had  long 
derided  the  attempts,  and  wounded  the  pride  of  the  Spanish 
court.  But  every  effort  made  against  its  defences,  proved 
abortive.  An  almost  incessant  firing,  for  more  than  three 
years,  by  the  Spanish  batteries,  and  a most  tremendous  as- 
sault, by  the  combined  forces  of  France  and  Spain,  under  the 
command  of  the  d ike  de  Crillon,  in  which  were  exhausted 
all  the  destructive  power,  and  all  the  terrific  grandeur  of 
the  art  of  war,  was  .sustained  by  general  Elliot,  with  unpa- 
ralleled fortitude,  and  repulsed  with  amazing  loss. 

The  capture  of  Charleston,  by  the  British  army, 
' u had  excited  considerable  alarm,  throughout  the 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


255 


United  States.  The  American  Congress  had  solicited,  in 
the  strongest  terms,  the  further  aid  of  France;  and  Louis 
detached,  in  the  beginning  of  May,  from  Brest,  the  count 
de  Rochambeau,  with  twelve-thousand  chosen  troops,  and 
the  chevalier  de  Ternay,  with  seven  ships  of  the  line,  and 
several  frigates.  These  arrived,  about  the  middle  of  June, 
at  Rhode  Island.  The  insular  section  of  this  province,  had 
been  assigned,  by  the  United  States,  to  their  allies,  as  a 
place  of  arms;  and  count  Rochambeau,  while  he  waited  an 
expected  reinforcement,  employed  his  troops  in  repairing 
and  augmenting  the  defences.  He  had,  soon  afterwards, 
reason  to  congratulate  himself,  on  this  precaution.  General 
Clinton  and  admiral  Arbuthnot,  having  returned,  from  the 
reduction  of  Charleston,  to  New- York,  formed  a plan  of 
attack,  against  the  French  fleet  and  army:  but  their  designs 
could  not  elude  the  penetration  of  general  Washington;  he 
rapidly  crossed  the  Hudson,  with  twelve-thousand  men;  and 
general  Clinton,  perceiving  the  danger  to  which  his  absence 
must  expose  New-York,  relinquished  his  attempt  against 
the  island. 

The  accession  of  so  large  a body  of  veteran  troops,  pro- 
duced a cheering  influence  upon  the  republican  ranks. 
Shortly  afterwards,  the  prospect  was  still  further  brighten- 
ed, by  the  addition  of  another  enemy,  to  England.  Having, 
by  the  capture  of  an  American  packet,  obtained  possession 
of  a treaty  of  amity  and  commerce,  between  the  republics 
of  Holland  and  the  United  States,  Great  Britain,  at  the  close 
of  the  year,  commenced  hostilities  against -the  Dutch. 

1T81  Yet,  s^’  resu^  °t*  the  American  contest, 
seemed  doubtful.  By  a failure  of  co-operation,  on 
the  part  of  their  European  allies,  the  congressional  army  had 
not  hitherto  received,  from  the  presence  of  the  French  ves- 
sels of  war,  all  that  benefit,  which  they  had  reasonably 
expected.  On  this  charge,  even  the  gallant  admirals,  de 
Guichen  and  d’Estaign,  are  not  wholly  free  from*  censure, 
It  was  happy  for  the  cause  of  liberty,  that  such  a man  as 
Washington  had  been  intrusted  with  the  chief  command; 
and  that  he  was  seconded,  in  his  heroic  efforts,  by  such 
leaders  as  Green,  Sullivan,  and  Gates;  Wayne  and  Mor- 
gan; St.  Clair,  Knox,  and  La  Fayette. 

But,  the  clouds  which  had  lowered  so  heavily  over  the 
destinies  of  the  United  States,  began,  before  the  close  of  the 
present  year,  to  pass  away.  Harassed  by  numerous  bodies 


£56 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


of  American  troops,  and  weakened  by  the  effects  of  a sickly 
climate,  the  British  general,  Cornwallis,  notwithstanding 
his  activity  and  valour,  was  unable  to  continue  his  operations, 
in  the  open  held.  He  established  his  place  of  arms  at  York- 
town,  situated  on  the  south  side  of  York  River,  in  Virginia; 
which,  as  it  was  navigable  for  ships  of  great  burthen,  ena- 
bled him  to  receive  succours  and  support,  by  sea. 

This  post,  lord  Cornwallis  diligently  applied  himself  to 
fortify.  But  the  hour  wTas  rapidly  approaching,  destined  to 
terminate  the  career  of  that  commander;  and,  by  a decisive 
blow,  finally  to  establish  the  independence  of  the  United 
States.  By  a series  of  the  most  artful  address,  general  Wash- 
ington had  deceived  his  antagonist  Clinton;  count  de  Rocham- 
beau  had  passed  over  from  Rhode  Island,  and,  in  conjunction 
with  the  American  army,  menaced  New- York;  that  city, 
■with  its  dependencies,  was  kept  in  a continual  state  of  alarm, 
for  above  six  weeks;  when  the  combined  army,  of  French 
and  Americans,  rapidly  traversed  New-Jersey,  crossed  the 
Delaware,  passed  through  Philadelphia,  and,  having  arrived 
before  York  town,  proceeded  closely  to  invest  lord  Cornwal- 
lis, who  occupied  that  station,  with  seven-thousand  troops. 

Meanwhile,  the  count  de  Grasse,  with  his  fleet,  from  the 
W est  Indies,  arrived  in  Chesapeake  Bay.  After  blocking 
up  York  River,  and  occupying  James  River,  to  a consider- 
able distance,  by  his  skilful  maneuvres,  he  not  only  pre- 
cluded lord  Cornwallis  from  any  retreat  to  the  Carolinas, 
but  was  also  enabled  to  convey,  in  security,  the  marquis  de 
Saint  Simon,  with  a large  body  of  land  forces,  from  the 
West  Indies,  eighteen  leagues  up  the  latter  river;  where  he 
formed  a junction  with  the  marquis  de  la  Fayette,  who  had 
already  been  reinforced,  with  succours  from  Pennsylvania, 
under  general  Wayne. 

The  fleet  of  the  count  de  Grasse,  consisted  of  twenty-foui 
ships  of  the  line;  the  British  squadron,  commanded  by  ad- 
mirals Greaves  and  Hood,  which,  during  these  operations, 
appeared  at  the  entrance  of  the  Chesapeake,  amounted  only 
to  nineteen.  Under  the  present  circumstances,  de  Grasse 
considered  it  unadvisable  to  hazard  much.  Though  he  stood 
out  to  sea,  and  engaged  the  English  fleet,  he  was  satisfied 
with  maintaining  the  honour  of  his  flag;  and,  without  enter- 
ing into  a general  battle,  he  returned  to  his  former  station, 
in  the  Bay. 

Having  surrounded  lord  Cornwallis,  on  every  quarter, 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


257 


the  assailants  began  to  urge  their  attack  upon  the  English 
works,  with  a vivacity  that  precluded  every  hope  of  relief. 
Sixteen -thousand  men  vied  with  each  other,  in  their  reduc- 
tion. They  were  penetrated  by  a hundred  pieces  of  heavy 
ordnance:  the  defences  were  in  many  places  ruined;  and 
most  of  their  guns  were  silenced.  Every  preparation  was 
made,  for  a general  assault.  But  this  scene  of  carnage  was 
averted,  by  the  prudence  of  the  British  general;  who,  sensi-^ 
ble  of  his  hopeless  situation,  resolved  not  to  sacrifice,  wan- 
tonly, the  lives  of  his  gallant  men:  he  accordingly  opened  a 
negotiation;  by  which,  the  troops  under  his  command  became 
prisoners  of  war. 

Such,  was  the  decisive  achievement  of  America  and 
France;  which  may  be  considered  as  ultimately  sealing  the 
independence  of  the  United  States. 

It  was  not  the  elder  branch  alone  of  the  house  of  Bour- 
bon, that  triumphed  on  the  northern  continent  of  America. 
An  armament,  fitted  out,  by  Spain,  at  the  Havana,  pene- 
trated into  West  Florida;  and  the  land  troops  having  invest- 
ed Pensacola,  the  British  governor,  after  a gallant  defence, 
was,  on  account  of  the  weakness  of  the  garrison,  compelled 
to  surrender  not  only  that  capital,  but  also  the  whole  pro- 
vince. 

The  gratification,  felt  by  the  people  of  France,  at  these 
successes,  was,  in  some  degree,  alloyed,  by  the  dismissal, 
from  office,  of  M.  Necker.  This  minister  had  not  rendered 
himself  equally  acceptable  to  the  sovereign,  as  to  his  sub- 
jects. The  frequent  retrenchments  recommended  by  him, 
particularly  in  the  expenses  of  the  royal  household,  having 
been  represented  as  inconsistent  with  the  dignity  of  the 
crown,  he  was  removed  from  his  office  of  controller-general, 
and  M.  Job  dc  Fleury  appointed  in  his  place. 

■,~na  The  advantages  obtained,  at  the  close  of  the  last 
i * campaign,  were  diligently  improved  by  thenninisters 
of  Louis.  The  siege  of  Minorca,  undertaken  in  the  prece- 
ding year,  was  terminated,  in  the  beginning  of  the  present, 
by  the  surrender  of  the  island,  to  the  duke  of  Crillon. 

We  have  but  slightly  noticed  the  operations  of  the  hostile 
navies.  Yet,  never  had  so  great  activity  been  shown,  at  sea, 
as  during  the  present  war.  Never  had  the  French  and 
English  fleets  contended  with  so  much  gallantry,  or  been  so 
nearly  equal,  in  the  combat.  Too  much  honour  cannot  he 
conferred  upon  the  commanders  of  the  former  nation.  Suf- 
Y 2 


£58 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


frein  and  de  Grasse;  nor  upon  those  of  the  latter,  Rodney 
and  Hood.  The  capture  of  the  army,  under  lord  Cornwal- 
lis, had  insured  the  independence  of  the  United  States;  and 
the  subsequent  operations,  upon  land,  were  confined  to  some 
faint  struggles,  made  by  the  English,  in  the  Carolinas  and 
Georgia.  France  was  now  at  leisure  to  direct  her  attention 
to  the  East  and  West  Indies;  and  de  Grasse  had  steered  his 
course  from  the  Chesapeake  to  Martinique.  With  the  mar- 
quis de  Bouille,  who  had  already  erected  the  standard  of 
France  on  the  Island  of  Nevis,  he  planned  an  attack  upon 
St.  Christopher’s;  which,  by  the  vigilance  and  enterprising 
ardour  of  that  commander,  was  crowned  with  complete 
success. 

But,  that  prosperous  fortune  which  had  hitherto  attended 
the  enterprises  of  France,  soon  afterwards  deserted  her. 
On  the  1 2th  of  April,  de  Grasse  and  Rodney  found  them- 
selves drawn  up  in  presence  of  each  other;  the  former  with 
thirty-three  ships  of  the  line,  the  latter  with  thirty-six. 
The  space  of  sea,  which  was  to  serve  as  the  field  of  battle, 
is  contained  between  the  islands  of  Guadaloupe,  Dominica, 
the  Saints,  and  Maria-Galante.  The  action  lasted  from 
seven  in  the  morning,  till  seven  at  night.  Never  did  war- 
riors, the  most  inflamed  with  the  desire  of  victory,  display 
more  desperate  valour,  or  more  determined  resolution,  than 
the  French  and  English,  on  this  memorable  day.  The 
broadsides,  from  their  rapid  succession,  appeared  continual. 
Through  the  dense  smoke  that  covered  the  two  fleets,  no- 
thing was  seen  but  the  lightning  of  their  guns;  nothing  was 
heard  but  the  thunder  of  artillery,  and  the  crash  of  the  shi- 
vered spars.  But  the  wind  all  at  once  proved  unfavourable 
to  the  French.  Their  line,  after  a most  furious  assault,  and 
sanguinary  resistance,  was  broken,  at  every  point.  The 
count  de  Grasse  bore  a heavy  fire,  for  a long  lime,  from 
the  Barfi.eur  of  ninety  guns,  commanded  by  admiral  Hood: 
and  it  was  not  until  after  a terrible  destruction  on  board  his 
vessel,  the  Ville  de  Paris,  and  only  himself  and  two  more 
vere  left  standing  on  the  upper  deck,  that  he  consented,  at 
last,  to  strike.  Four  other  vessels  of  the  line,  were  forced 
to  surrender;  one  of  which,  soon  afterwards,  caught  fire,  and 
blew  up;  the  marquis  de  Vaudreuil  then  collected  part  of 
the’ scattered  fleet,  and,  with  nineteen  ships  of  the  line,  es- 
caped to  Martinique. 

The  Ville  de  Paris  was  considered  as  one  of  the  fairest 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


259 


ornaments  of  the  French  marine.  She  had  been  presented  to 
Louis  XV.,  by  his  capital,  at  the  epoch  of  the  disasters  occa- 
sioned by  the  war  of  Canada;  she  carried  one-hundred-and- 
ten  guns,  and  cost  four-millions  of  livres. 

The  English  lost,  in  this  battle,  and  in  another  that  had 
occurred  three  days  before,  upwards  of  a thousand  men: 
the  loss  of  the  French,  without  reckoning  prisoners,  was 
considerably  more. 

The  marquis  de  Vaudreuil,  upon  whom  the  chief  command, 
in  the  West  India  seas,  now  devolved,  was  not  inattentive 
to  the  interest  of  his  country.  Rising  under  the  pressure 
of  calamities,  he  detached  M.  La  Perouse,  with  three  ships 
of  war,  against  the  remote  possessions  of  the  Hudson’s  Bay 
Company,  in  the  north.  This  enterprise  was  conducted,  by 
that  celebrated  navigator,  with  not  less  fortitude,  than  skill 
For  three  weeks,  after  he  had  passed  the  islands  of  Resolu- 
tion, which  mark  the  entrance  into  Hudson’s  Straits,  he 
was  incessantly  exposed  to  new  and  imminent  peril.  Notwith- 
standing the  power  of  the  sun,  in  the  month  of  July,  the 
ships,  for  some  time,  were  so  fast  locked  up,  in  the  ice,  that 
the  seamen  passed,  from  one  to  another,  on  foot.  They  had 
lost  all  hope  of  reaching  the  destined  object,  before  the  en- 
suing year.  But,  so  severe  a trial  of  their  constancy  was 
prevented,  by  the  appearance  of  a small  opening,  in  the  ice; 
through  this,  the  ships  forced  their  way,  with  a press  of  sail ; 
and  they  were  afterwards  gratified  with  the  joyful  sight  of 
the  English  colours  flying  over  a fort,  on  Churchill  River. 
If  the  toils  and  dangers  of  the  approach  had  been  great,  some 
compensation  was  afforded,  by  the  facility  of  the  conquest. 
The  works  were  garrisoned  only  by  a small  number  of  store- 
keepers and  clerks;  who  surrendered,  on  the  first  appearance 
of  the  enemy.  A few  sought  shelter  in  the  woods;  and 
Perouse,  having,  by  the  destruction  of  the  forts  and  merchan- 
dise, completed  the  object  of  his  expedition,  had  yet  the 
humane  precaution  to  preserve  one  of  the  magazines;  in  which 
he  deposited,  provisions,  arms,  and  ammunition,  for  their  use; 
as,  during  the  long  winter,  then  approaching,  they  could  not 
receive  any  relief  from  home. 

Unparalleled  exertions  were  made,  in  France,  to  open 
the  ensuing  campaign  with  an  overwhelming  force.  The 
ambition  of  the  sovereign  was  responded  by  the  sympa- 
thetic ardour  of  the  people.  The  nobility,  the  citizens, 
the  clergy,  persons  of  every  rank  and  condition,  vied  with 


£60 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


each  other,  in  furnishing  contributions  to  the  state.  But, 
amidst  this  patriotic  ardour,  in  providing  the  thunderbolts 
of  war,  the  contending  nations  were  once  more  blessed,  by 
the  voice  of  peace.  The  ministers  of  Great  Britain,  who&e 
imprudence  and  incapacity  had  involved  their  country  in 
hostilities,  as  disastrous  in  the  conclusion,  as  they  were  im- 
politic in  the  beginning,  were,  at  length,  by  the  clamours  of 
the  multitude,  and  the  indignation  of  parliament,  removed 
from  the  public  councils,  and  were  succeeded  by  men  who 
no  longer  indulged  the  chimerical  idea  of  controlling  the  in- 
dependence of  America.  The  freedom  of  that  continent, 
had  been  the  grand  object  of  France.  The  defeat  in  the 
West  Indies,  and  the  repulse  at  Gibraltar,  were  still  deeply 
impressed  on  the  mind  of  Louis.  Much  might  be  lost, 
nothing  valuable  could  be  gained,  by  a continuance  of  the 
war.  These  considerations  having  induced  him  to  listen 
to  the  proffered''  mediation  of  the  two  first  potentates  of  Eu- 
rope, the  emperor  of  Germany,  and  the  empress  of  Russia, 
the  count  de  Vergennes  was  appointed  to  treat  with  Mr. 
Fitzherbert,  the  English  minister,  at  Paris. 

The  way  had  been  already  smoothed,  for  the  restora- 
tion of  a general  peace,  by  provisional  articles,  signed 
at  the  conclusion  of  the  last  year,  between  the  American 
states  and  Great  Britain. 

By  these,  the  freedom,  sovereignty,  and  independence,  of 
the  Thirteen  United  States,  were,  m the  fullest  and  most 
express  terms,  acknowledged. 

This  primary  object  was  no  sooner  attained,  than  the  count 
de  Vergennes  quickened  the  negotiations  of  his  own  court; 
and,  on  the  twentieth  of  January,  signed  preliminary  arti- 
cles of  peace;  which  were  succeeded,  on  the  third  day  of 
September,  by  a definitive  treaty. 

By  this,  France  acquired  an  extent  of  fishery  on  the  coast 
of  Newfoundland,  and  the  restitution  in  that  quarter,  of  St. 
Pierre  and  Miquelon.  In  the  West  Indies,  England  re- 
stored to  her,  the  island  of  St.  Lucia,  and  ceded  the  island 
of  Tobago;  but  France  consented  to  relinquish,  in  return, 
the  island  of  Grenada  and  the  Grenadines;  and  also  St.  Vin- 
cent, Dominica,  St.  Christopher’s,  Nevis,  and  Montserrat. 
In  Africa,  France  was  invested,  in  full  right,  with  the  river 
Senegal,  and  all  its  dependencies;  and  obtained  also  the 
restitution  of  Goree;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  she  guaranteed 
to  Great  Britain,  the  possession  of  Fort  James,  and  the  river 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


261 


Gambia.  In  the  East,  France  regained,  with  considerable 
additions,  all  that  had  been  wrested  from  her,  in  the  course 
of  the  war;  and,  in  Europe,  where  she  could  not  acquire  an  ex- 
tension of  dominion,  she  received,  by  the  abolition  of  some 
restrictions,  an  accession  of  dignity  and  honour. 

Nor  was  the  other  branch  of  the  house  of  Bourbon,  neglect- 
ed, on  this  occasion.  Unused  as  she  was,  to  victory,  Spain 
now  tasted  the  sweets  of  acquisition.  Though  babied  and 
repulsed  before  Gibraltar,  her  pride  was  soothed,  by  the 
cession  of  Minorca;  and  also  the  fertile  provinces  of  East  and 
West  Florida:  yet,  some  retribution  was  made,  by  the  re- 
storation, to  Great  Britain,  of  the  Bahama  Islands. 

But,  however  exalted  the  present  situation  of  France  might 
appear,  the  elements  of  future  commotion  were  already 
apparent,  to  the  eye  of  an  accurate  observer.  The  applause 
that  had  attended  the  parliament  of  Paris,  in  its  struggles 
with  Louis  XY.  ,may  be  considered  as  the  first  indication  of 
freedom.  The  language  of  that  assembly  had  boldly  incul- 
cated, to  the  people,  their  natural  rights,  and  taught  them  to 
be  less  dazzled  with  the  lustre  of  a throne.  The  causes  of  the 
signal  change  in  the  sentiments  of  the  French  nation,  are 
various.  The  human  mind  had  been  progressively  improved. 
The  veil  of  superstition  had  been  rent  asunder.  The  writings 
of  Montesquieu,  Raynal,  and  Rousseau;  of  Voltaire,  Bailly, 
and  Buffon;  of  Condorcet,  Diderot,  and  d’Alembert;  had 
taught  mankind  to  think.  The  war  in  the  United  States, 
also,  had  contributed  to  enlarge  the  political  ideas  of  the 
Fren«h.  They  had,  on  that  occasion,  stood  forth  as  the  cham- 
pions of  liberty,  in  opposition  to  regal  power;  and  the ’officers 
who  had  acted  on  that  conspicuous  stage,  accustomed  to 
think  and  to  speak,  without  reserve,  on  their  return  imparted 
their  liberal  sentiments  to  the  provinces  of  France.  From 
that  moment,  the  French,  instead  of  silently  acquiescing  in 
the  edicts  of  their  sovereign,  discussed  every  measure,  with 
acumen  and  boldness;  while  the  attachment  of  the  army,  always 
considered  as  the  sole  foundation  of  despotism,  yielded  to 
an  enthusiastic  admiration  of  freedom. 

W e have  already  noticed  the  public  dissatisfaction,  that  had 
attended  the  dismissal  of  M.  Necker.  M.  de  Fleury  had  been 
succeeded  by  M.  d’Ormesson;  whose  administration  expired 
in  the  same  year  that  it  had  commenced.  On  his  retreat,  M. 
de  Calonne  was  nominated  to  the  post  of  controller-general. 
Flexible  and  insinuating,  eloquent  in  conversation,  and 


£63 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


polished  in  his  manners;  fertile  in  resources,  and  liberal  in 
the  disposal  of  the  public  money;  he  soon  rendered  himself 
acceptable  to  the  court,  and  acquired  the  favour  of  the  king. 
But  he  was  not  equally  favoured  by  the  people.  He  was 
reported  to  be  more  able  than  consistent;  and  the  nation, 
amidst  repeated  loans,  regretted  the  severe  simplicity  that 
had  characterized  the  administration  of  M.  Necker. 

1784  Yet,  ^ie  Operations  of  M.  Calonne,  extorted 
general  approbation.  It  was  his  bold  and  judicious 
measures,  that  had  restored  credit  to  the  Caisse  d’Escompte; 
the  only  incorporated  banking  company,  then  in  France;  and 
which  had  stopped  payment,  a few  weeks  before  his  acces- 
sion. But,  the  principal  act  of  the  ensuing  year,  was  not 
equally  favourable  to  his  popularity.  For  many  years, 
France  had  been  without  an  East  India  company;  and  the 
increase  of  business,  caused  by  the  exertions  of  individual 
merchants,  appeared  a sufficient  proof  of  the  advantages 
derived  from  an  unshackled  trade;  yet,  notwithstanding 
the  benefits  winch  had  accrued  from  this  liberal  policy,  by 
a resolution  of  the  king,  in  council,  a new  company  was 
chartered,  and  the  monopoly  r estored. 

1 This  was  the  first  measure  that  subjected  the  con- 
duct of  the  minister  to  reproach.  But  the  time  was 
now  rapidly  advancing,  when  the  necessities  of  the  state 
would  compel  him  to  use  expedients,  still  more  unpopular. 
Though  peace  had  been  re-established,  throughout  Europe, 
for  three  years,  yet  the  treasury  of  France  seemed  little 
replenished,  by  this  interval;  and  it  was  found  requisite  to 
close  every  year  with  a loan.  The  public  expenditure  of 
the  present  year,  might  probably  seem  to  sanction  this 
measure.  It  had  been  thought  proper  to  fortify  Cherbourg, 
upon  a large  and  magnificent  scale:  the  claim  of  the  em- 
peror, to  the  navigation  of  the  Schelde,  had  obliged  the 
French  to  increase  their  land  forces,  in  order  either  to  form 
a respectable  neutrality,  or  effectually  to  assist  their  Dutch 
allies;  and  the  marquis  de  Castries,  fond  of  war,  and  pro- 
fuse in  his  designs,  had  not  suffered  the  navy,  which  M. 
Sartine  had  surrendered  into  his  hands,  to  decay,  during  the 
interval  of  peace. 

Sensible  of  the  disastrous  state  of  the  public  revenue, 
Louis  did  all  he  could,  to  contrive  a remedy.  He  limited 
his  personal  expenses,  and  those  of  his  household,  with  a 
rigour  which  approached  to  parsimony,  and  dimmed  the 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


263 


necessary  splendour  of  his  throne.  He  abolished  many 
pensions,  and,  by  so  doing,  not  only  disobliged  those  who 
were  deprived  of  the  enjoyment  of  those  gratuities,  but  lost 
the  attachment  of  a much  more  numerous  class  of  expectants, 
who  served  the  court,  in  the  hope  of  obtaining  similar  grati- 
fications, in  their  turn.  Lastly,  he  dismissed  a very  large 
proportion  of  his  household  troops,  and  body-guards;  afford- 
ing another  subject  of  discontent  to  the  nobles,  out  of  whose 
families  these  corps  were  recruited;  and  destroying,  with 
his  own  hand,  a force  devotedly  attached  to  the  royal  person. 

But,  when  the  edict  for  registering  the  loan,  at  the  con- 
clusion of  the  last  year,  was  presented  to  the  parliament  of 
Paris,  the  murmurs  of  the  people,  seconded  by  that  assembly, 
assumed  a deep  and  formidable  tone.  The  parliament  exhi- 
bited a steady  opposition.  They  refused  compliance  with  the 
royal  will ; and  even  insisted  that  a true  account  of  the  state 
of  the  finances,  and  of  toe  purposes  to  which  the  sums  in 
question  were  to  be  applied,  should  previously  be  laid  before 
them.  The  king,  however,  compelled  the  edict  to  be  regis- 
tered: but  the  ceremony  was  accompanied  by  a resolution 
of  the  parliament,  that  “public  economy  was  the  only  genuine 
source  of  abundant  revenue,  and  the  only  means  of  restor- 
ing that  credit,  which  borrowing  had  reduced  to  the  brink 
of  ruin.”  The  royal  pride,  wras  wounded,  by  this  remon- 
strance. The  king  erased  it  from  the  records;  declared  that 
he  would  not  consent  that  they  should  so  far  abuse  his  confi- 
dence and  clemency,  as  to  erect  themselves  into  censors  of 
his  administration;  and  the  more  strongly  to  mark  his  dis- 
pleasure, he  directed  the  dismission  of  one  of  their  officers  who 
had  appeared  the  most  active  in  forwarding  the  resolution. 

The  situation  of  the  minister  was  distressing.  He  was 
more  mortified  by  the  opposition  of  the  parliament,  than  gra- 
tified by  the  approbation  of  the  king?  To  impose  new  taxes, 
was  impossible;  to  continue  the  plan  of  borrowing,  was  ruin- 
ous; to  have  recourse  only  to  economical  reforms,  would  be 
found  wholly  inadequate:  M.  de  Calonne,  therefore,  declar- 
ed, that  it  would  be  impractiable  to  place  the  finances  on  a 
solid  basis,  unless  by  reforming  whatever  was  vicious  in  the 
constitution  of  the  state.  He  perceived  that  the  parliament 
was  neither  a fit  instrument  for  introducing  a new  order 
into  public  affairs,  nor  likely  to  submit  to  be  a passive  machine 
for  sanctioning  the  plans  of  a minister,  even  were  those  plans 
the  emanation  of  perfect  wisdom.  Though  originally  a body 


264 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


of  lawyers,  constituted  only  for  the  administration  of  justice, 
and  indebted  for  their  appointment  to  the  king,  there  was 
not  an  attribute  of  a genuine  legislative  assembly,  that  they 
did  not  seem  desirous  of  engrossing  to  themselves;  and  they 
had  been  supported  by  the  plaudits  of  the  people,  who  were 
sensible  that  there  was  no  other  body  in  the  nation,  that  could 
plead  their  cause,  against  the  oppression  of  the  court.  The 
only  alternative  that  seemed  to  remain,  was  to  have  recourse 
to  some  other  assembly,  more  solemn  in  its  character;  which 
should  resemble  the  parliament  of  England,  and  consist,  in 
a greater  degree,  of  members  from  the  various  orders  of  the 
state,  and  the  different  provinces  of  the  kingdom.  This 
promised  to  be  a popular  measure,  as  it  implied  a deference 
to  the  people  at  large.  But,  the  true  and  legitimate  assem- 
bly of  the  nation,  had  not  been  convened  since  the  reign  of 
the  thirteenth  Louis,  in  the  year  1614;  nor  could  the  minister 
[latter  himself  with  obtaining  the  royal  assent  to  a meeting, 
which  would  be  regarded  with  secret  jealousy,  by  a sove- 
reign possessing  despotic  power.  Another  assembly  had 
occasionally  been  substituted,  in  the  room  of  the  states- 
general;  distinguished  by  the  name  of  Notables , and  consist- 
ing of  a number  of  persons,  selected  chiefly  from  the  higher 
orders  of  the  state,  and  nominated  by  the  king  himself. 
This  assembly  had  been  convened  by  Henry  IV.,  and  again 
by  Louis  XIII.;  and  was  now  summoned,  by  the  authority 
of  the  present  monarch. 

The  writs  for  assembling  the  notables,  were  dated  on  the 
twenty -ninth  of  December.  They  were  addressed  to  seven 
princes  of  the  blood,  nine  dukes  and  peers  of  France,  eight 
field  marshals,  twenty-two  nobles,  eight  counsellors  of  state, 
four  masters  of  requests,  eleven  archbishops  and  bishops, 
thirty- seven  chief  officers  of  the  law,  twelve  deputies  of 
states,  and  twenty-six  magistrates  of  the  different  towns  of 
the  kingdom;  the  whole  number  of  members  being  one- 
hundred-and-forty-four. 

On  the  twenty-second  day  of  February,  M.  de 
Calonne  opened,  to  the  assembly,  his  long  expected 
plan.  He  recommended  a territorial  impost,  in  nature  of 
the  English  land-tax,  from  which  no  rank  or  order  of  men 
was  to  be  exempted;  an  inquiry  into  the  possessions  of  the 
clergy,  which  hitherto  had  been  deemed  too  sacred  to  bear 
their  proportion  of  the  public  burthen:  the  various  branches 
of  internal  taxation  were  also  to  undergo  a strict  examination; 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


£65 


and  a considerable  resource  was  presented,  in  mortgaging 
the  demesne  lands  of  the  crown. 

The  ancient  nobility,  as  well  as  the  clergy  and  magis- 
trates, had  always  been  free  from  every  public  assessment; 
and,  had  the  evil  gone  no  further,  it  might  still  have  been 
borne,  with  patience;  but,  through  the  shameful  custom  of 
selling  patents  of  nobility,  such  crowds  of  new  noblesse  had 
started  up,  that  every  province  of  the  kingdom  was  filled 
with  them;  and  thus,  the  whole  weight  of  the  taxes,  fell  upon 
those  who  were  the  least  able  to  pay  them.  There  were, 
in  the  kingdom,  about  eighty-thousand  families  enjoying  the 
privileges  of  nobility;  and,  of  about  one-thousand  houses,  of 
which  the  ancient  noblesse  is  computed  to  have  consisted, 
not  above  two  or  three  hundred  had  retained  the  means  of 
supporting  their  rank,  without  the  assistance  of  the  crown. 

But  the  privileged  orders,  of  which  the  Notables  princi- 
pally consisted,  were  not  sufficiently  patriotic,  to  allow  any 
portion  of  the  public  burthen  to  be  shifted  from  the  backs  of 
the  people,  to  their  own.  Not  only  the  proposed  method 
of  increasing  the  revenue,  but  the  very  necessity  of  the  in- 
crease itself,  was  combated,  with  energetic  boldness.  Its 
principal  opponents  were  the  celebrated  count  Mirabeau, 
and  M.  de  Brienne,  archbishop  of  Toulouse.  The  minister 
was  much  embarrassed.  Finding  it  impossible  to  stem  the 
opposing  torrent,  M.  de  Calonne  not  only  resigned  his  place, 
on  the  twelfth  of  April,  but  soon  afterwards  retired  to  Eng- 
land, from  the  storm  of  persecution.  The  appointment  of 
the  archbishop,  to  the  office  of  controller-general,  though  it 
preserved  the  appearance  of  good  humour  in  the  assembly, 
failed  to  obtain  for  the  court,  the  object  of  its  wishes.  The 
proposition  of  a territorial  impost,  was  rejected;  and  the 
king  seeing  no  prospect  of  gaining  relief  from  the  convention, 
dismissed  the  meeting. 

The  financial  contest  was  fast  hastening  towards  a crisis. 
Louis  was  now  compelled  to  recur  to  the  usual  mode  of  rais- 
ing money,  by  royal  edicts.  Amongst  the  measures  pro- 
posed, for  this  purpose,  was  a stamp-duty,  and  the  doubling 
of  the  poll-tax.  The  whole  were  strongly  disapproved,  by 
the  parliament  of  Paris;  but  the  last  was  the  particular  ob- 
ject of  contention;  and  that  assembly,  in  the  most  positive 
terms,  refused  to  register  the  edict.  The  king  used,  as  the 
last  resort,  his  absolute  authority;  and,  by  holding  what  was 
called  a bed  of  justice,  a sort  of  parliament,  in  which  he 


266 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


himself  presided,  in  person,  compelled  them  to  enrol  the 
impost. 

The  parliament,  though  defeated,  were  far  from  being  sub- 
dued. They  entered  a formal  protest,  against  the  extorted 
concession.  They  declared  that  it  neither  ought,  nor  should 
have  any  force;  and  that  the  first  person  who  presumed  to 
carry  it  into  execution,  should  be  adjudged  a traitor,  and 
condemned  to  the  galleys. 

The  authority  which  had  been  so  long  exercised  by  his 
predecessors,  Louis  would  not  consent  to  surrender,  without 
a struggle.  About  a week  after  the  parliament  had  entered 
the  protest,  an  officer  of  the  French  guards,  with  a party  of 
soldiers,  went  to  the  house  of  each  individual  member,  to 
signify  to  him  the  king’s  command,  that  he  should  imme- 
diately proceed  to  Troyes,  a city  of  Champagne,  about 
seventy  miles  from  Paris;  and,  before  the  citizens  were  ac- 
quainted with  the  transaction,  the  parliament  were  on  the 
road  to  their  place  of  banishment. 

It  is  generally  believed,  that  the  queen  contributed  much 
to  induce  her  husband  to  persist  in  the  exercise  of  arbitrary 
power;  and  the  king’s  brother,  the  count  d’ Artois,  who  had 
expressed  himself,  in  the  most  unguarded  terms,  against  the 
perseverance  of  the  parliament,  stood  exposed  to  all  the 
hatred  of  a sensitive  and  insulted  people. 

Nor  was  it  in  Paris,  alone,  that  the  flame  of  liberty  was 
rekindled.  The  provincial  parliaments  imitated  that  of  the 
capital:  the  parliament  of  Grenoble  passed  a decree  against 
lettres  de  cachet ,*  the  most  odious  engine  of  arbitrary  power: 
and  declared  the  execution  of  them,  within  their  jurisdiction, 
to  be  a capital  crime. 

The  resolute  firmness  of  his  subjects,  could  not  be  with- 
stood, by  the  vacillating  monarch.  To  regain  their  affec- 
tions, after  the  exile  of  a month,  he  consented  to  restore  the 
parliament  of  Paris;  and  also  to  abandon  the  project  of  a 
territorial  impost;  and  the  parliament,  on  their  side,  con- 
sented to  register  an  edict,  by  which  the  archbishop  of  Tou- 
louse was  created  first  minister  of  state. 

But  this  harmony  was  not  of  long  duration.  The  neces- 
sities of  the  state  continued;  nor  could  the  deficiencesin  the 
revenue  be  supplied,  except  by  extraordinary  resources. 

* Private  letters,  or  mandates,  ( sealed  letters,)  formerly  issued  by  the 
kings  of  France,  under  the  royal  signature,  for  the  apprehension  of 
persons  obnoxious  to  the  court. 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


267 


About  the  middle  of  November,  in  a full  meeting  of  the 
parliament,  attended  by  ail  the  princes  of  the  blood,  and  the 
peers  of  France,  the  king  entered  the  assembly,  and  pro- 
posed two  edicts,  for  their  approbation : the  first,  for  a loan  of 
four-hundred-and-fifty-miliions  of  livres,  (nearly  eighty-five- 
millions  of  dollars;)  the  second,  for  the  re-establishment  of 
the  protestants,  in  all  their  ancient  civil  rights;  the  latter 
being  a measure  long  recommended  by  the  parliament,  and 
probably  now  introduced,  by  the  ministers,  to  procure  a 
better  reception  to  the  loan.  The  king  was  soon  convinced, 
that  the  spirit  of  the  assembly  was  not  subdued,  by  their 
recent  exile*  An  animated  debate  was  continued,  for  nine 
hours;  when,  the  king,  wearied  by  incessant  opposition, 
suddenly  rose,  and  commanded  the  edicts  to  be  registered, 
without  delay.  This  order  was  unexpectedly  opposed,  by 
the  duke  of  Orleans,  a cousin  of  the  king;  who  protested 
against  the  whole  proceedings  of  the  day,  as  null  and  void. 

But  Louis  did  not  silently  pass  over  so  bold  an  attack 
upon  the  authority  of  the  crown.  The  next  day,  the  duke 
of  Orleans  was  commanded  to  retire  to  one  of  his  seats,  a 
mile  from  Paris;  and  the  abbe  Sabatiere  and  M.  Freteau, 
ooth  members  of  parliament,  who  had  distinguished  them- 
selves in  the  debate,  were  imprisoned. 

1 The  parliament  were  not  slow',  in  expressing  their 
/ * feelings,  at  this  act  of  oppression.  Their  spirited 

remonstrance,  was  again  triumphant.  Too  mild  in  his  dis- 
position, to  support  the  character  of  a tyrant,  the  king,  in 
the  beginning  of  the  year,  recalled  the  duke  of  Orleans,  to 
court,  and  liberated  the  imprisoned  members;  and  soon  af- 
terwards the  nation  was  still  further  gratified,  by  the  re- 
instatement of  M.  Necker,  at  the  head  of  the  finances. 

The  credit  of  an  individual,  seemed,  at  this  moment,  to 
support  the  tottering  state  of  France.  The  people  flattered 
themselves,  that  the  national  wealth,  so  long  diverted  from 
its  proper  course,  would,  by  his  integrity  and  ability,  be  re- 
stored to  its  natural  channel.  France  now  groaned  beneath 
a national  debt  of  more  than  two-hundred-and-eight-millions 
sterling,  or  nine-hundred-and-twenty -four-millions  of  dollars. 

To  assemble  the  States-Gencral,  w7as  the  only  expedient 
that  presented  itself  to  Necker.  But,  no  small  difficulty 
occurred,  in  relation  to  the  number  of  the  representatives  of 
the  tiers  etat , or  commons.  From  the  reign  of  Philip  the 
Fair,  the  period  when  the  third  estate  or  commons  had  first 


268 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


been  admitted  into  the  assembly  of  the  states -general,  to  the 
year  1614,  when  that  body  had  been  last  assembled,  the  in- 
fluence of  that  estate  had  undergone  considerable  fluctua- 
tion: its  numbers  had  occasionally  varied;  though  it  had 
always  possessed  a greater  number  of  voices,  than  either  of 
the  other  on1  1 **’J  1 the  clergy — separate;  but 


question  was  now  proposed,  6 6 whether  the  representatives 
of  the  commons  ought  to  be  confined  to  a third  of  the  num- 
ber of  the  states-general,  or  be  allowed  a number  equal  to 
the  other  orders  combined?”  This  important  question  was 
discussed  with  unusual  ability  and  warmth.  The  duke  of  Or- 
leans joined  M.  Necker,  in  the  proposed  increase  to  the  popu- 
lar branch  of  the  assembly;  and  the  measure  was  at  length 
approved  by  the  parliament,  and  sanctioned  by  the  king. 

A retrospective  view  may,  at  this  stage  of  our  history,  be 
instructive.  At  no  period,  since  its  establishment,  had  the 
French  monarchy  any  permanency  in  its  form,  or  any  fixed 
and  recognized  prerogatives  and  powers.  Under  the  first 
races,  the  government  was  elective,  the  nation  was  sovereign, 
and  the  king  simply  a military  chieftain,  depending  on  the 
common  deliberations,  as  to  the  decrees  he  should  enact,  or 
the  measures  he  should  undertake.  The  nation  elected  its 
chief:  it  exercised  the  legislative  power,  in  the  Champ -de- Mars, 
under  the  presidency  of  the  chief,  and  the  judicial  power,  as 
to  the  courts-leet,  under  the  direction  of  one  of  his  officers. 
The  sovereignty  at  length  ascended:  the  grandees  despoiled 
the  people  of  their  power,  as  they  themselves  were  afterwards 
despoiled  of  it,  by  the  prince.  At  this  epoch,  the  monarch  had 
become  hereditary, — not,  however,  as  king,  but  as  possessor 
of  the  royal  fief;  the  legislative  powers  then  belonging  to  the 
grandees,  in  the  parliaments  of  the  barons,  and  the  judicial 
authority  to  the  vassals,  in  the  seignoral  courts.  By  degrees, 
there  was  a still  further  concentration  of  the  sovereign  pow- 
er: the  king  at  length  annulled,  or  subjugated,  the  seignoral 
courts,  assumed  the  legislative  power,  and  made  the  parlia- 
ments of  lawyers  exercise  their  judicial  functions,  in  subser- 
viency to  the  royal  will. 

The  States-Gcneral,  summoned  only  on  occasions  of  pres- 
sing necessity,  to  grant  subsidies,  and  composed  of  the  three 
orders  of  the  nation— -the  clergy,  the  noblesse,  and  the  tiers 
etat , (or  third  estate) — never  had  a regular  existence;  and, 
under  Louis  XIV.,  absolute  monarchy  was  definitively 


had  never 


united.  The  interesting 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


£69 


established.  From  his  time,  to  the  revolution,  the  government 
of  France  was  arbitrary,  rather  than  despotic:  the  monarchs 
had  much  greater  power,  than  they  exercised;  their  immense 
authority  being  resisted  only  by  the  feeblest  barriers. 

NATIONAL  ASSEMBLY. 

The  States-General  assembled  on  the  fifth  of  May. 

' * An  immense  multitude,  from  all  parts,  had  resorted 

to  Versailles.  The  pomp  of  decoration  had  been  prodigiously 
lavish: — the  chantings  of  music,  the  benevolent  and  satisfied 
air  of  the  king,  the  beauty  and  noble  deportment  of  the 
queen;  and,  above  all,  the  common  expectation;  inspired 
and  animated  every  breast.  Yet  the  people  beheld,  with 
pain,  the  etiquette,  the  costume,  and  the  subordination  of 
the  states,  which  had  been  observed  in  1614.  The  clergy, 
in  cassocks,  large  cloaks,  and  square  bonnets,  or  in  purple 
robes  and  lawn  sleeves,  occupied  the  first  place..  Then, 
came  the  noblesse,  habited  in  black,  having  the  vest  and  fa- 
cing of  silver  cloth,  the  cravat  of  lace,  and  the  hat  with  a 
white  plume,  turned  up,  in  the  fashion  of  Henry  IV.  The 
modest  commons  were  in  the  last  place,  clothed  in  black, 
with  a short  cloak,  muslin  cravat,  and  hat  without  plumes 
or  loops. 

The  next  day,  the  royal  sitting  was  held  in  the  hall  of 
the  privy  treasury.  When  the  deputies  and  ministers  had 
taken  their  places,  the  king  made  his  entry,  followed  by  the 
queen,  the  princes,  and  a brilliant  retinue.  The  hall  re- 
sounded with  applause.  Louis  seated  himself  upon  his 
throne,  and,  when  he  had  put  on  his  hat,  the  three  orders 
covered  themselves,  at  the  same  time.  The  commons,  con- 
trary to  the  usage  of  the  ancient  states,  imitated,  without 
hesitation,  the  clergy  and  the  noblesse.  The  time  had  pas- 
sed away,  when  it  was  necessary  for  the  third  estate  to 
stand  uncovered,  and  speak  to  the  sovereign  upon  their  knees. 

The  address  delivered,  by  the  king,  on  this  occasion,  was 
conciliating  and  patriotic.  He  seemed  bent  upon  restoring 
tranquillity  to  France.  But  his  recommendation  of  una- 
nimity to  the  several  orders,  was  entirely  without  effect.  The 
elements  of  which  they  were  composed,  were  too  dissimilar, 
to  be  amalgamated  by  the  royal  will.  The  clergy  and  the 
noblesse  proposed  to  vote  in  a distinct  chamber,  separate 
from  the  commons;  who  were  thus  to  be  considered  as  form- 
z 2 


270 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


ing  a third  and  independent  branch  of  the  assembly,  and 
would  certainly  be  overpowered,  upon  every  question  that 
affected  their  privileges,  by  the  combined  voices  of  the  other 
two.  The  commons  insisted  that  there  should  be  a union 
of  the  three  orders,  in  one  chamber  $ and  that  the  votes  of  the 
whole  assembly  should  be  taken  together;  by  which  means, 
the  tiers  etat  would  be  enabled  to  exercise  that  numerical 
influence,  to  which  they  thought  themselves  entitled,  by 
their  number.  The  clergy  and  noblesse  retired  to  another 
hall,  and  the  commons,  at  the  suggestion  of  the  abbe  Sieyes, 
assumed  the  supreme  legislative  authority,  under  the  title 
of  the  National  Assembly;  and  solemnly  swore,  with  the 
exception  of  a single  individual,  that  they  would  not  sepa- 
rate, until  they  had  given  a constitution  to  France. 

From  the  epoch  of  this  event,  which  occurred  on  the  six- 
teenth of  June,  may  be  dated  the  commencement  of  the 
Revolution;  when  privileged  orders,  and  feudal  distinctions, 
the  stupendous  fabric  of  ecclesiastical  authority,  and  the 
magnificence  and  power  of  the  ancient  monarchy  of  France, 
crumbled  into  ruin,  beneath  the  breath  of  a nation,  awaken- 
ed, by  the*pressure  of  misgovernment,  into  action. 

It  was  not  until  the  twenty-seventh  of  June,  that  the  fee- 
ble attempts  of  the  clergy  and  nobles,  were  overwhelmed, 
by  the  numbers  and  resolution  of  the  commons,  and  a re- 
union of  the  three  orders  was  effected.  The  nobles  had 
amongst  them  many  popular  dissidents.  The  majority  of 
the  clergy,  also,  composed  of  some  bishops,  friends  of  peace, 
and  a numerous  class  of  curates,  were  favourably  inclined 
towards  the  commons. 

Bailly,  the  celebrated  astronomer,  then  presided  over 
the  assembly.  This  virtuous  citizen,  without  seeking  for 
honours,  had  received  all  that  the  rising  spirit  of  liberty  could 
confer.  He  was  the  first  president  of  the  assembly,  as  he 
had  been  the  first  deputy  of  Paris,  and  was  to  be  its  first 
mayor. 

It  was  at  this  period  of  public  agitation,  that  the  memo- 
rable society  of  the  Friends  of  the  People,  since  called  Ja- 
cobins, in  allusion  to  their  place  of  meeting,  was  formed. 
Its  members  corresponded  with  all  parts  of  France;  and, 
possessed  of  a rare  union  of  talents  and  enthusiasm,  it  gave 
a tone  to  the  national  voice,  that  responded,  with  impres- 
sive harmony,  from  all  points  of  the  kingdom;  and  finally 
plunged  the  nation  into  anarchy  and  bloodshed. 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


27 1 


Histories  more  voluminous  than  this,  must  be  consulted 
for  the  details  of  the  imprudent  and  unsuccessful  struggle, 
maintained,  with  the  National  Assembly,  by  the  court.  The 
impulse  now  given  to  the  revolution,  could  not  be  arrested, 
by  so  feeble  a hand  as  that  of  Louis.  The  high-toned  coun- 
sels of  his  brothers,  and  his  queen,  instead  of  impeding, 
served  only  to  accelerate  its  progress.  The  angry  counte- 
nance of  the  Parisians,  foretold  the  approaching  storm.  Seve- 
ral prisons  were  forced,  the  debtors  and  criminals  set  free, 
and  the  French  guards  loudly  invited  to  abandon  the  cause 
of  despotism,  and  range  themselves  beneath  the  standard  of 
liberty. 

Large  bodies  of  troops  were  directed,  by  the  court,  to 
march  towards  Paris;  a considerable  camp  was  formed  near 
the  gates  of  the  capital;  the  avenues  to  Versailles  were  guard- 
ed, by  a formidable  artillery;  numerous  sentinels  were 
stationed  around  Paris;  and  the  marshal  de  Broglio,  grown 
gray  in  the  wars  of  Germany,  was  summoned  to  command 
the  forces  assembled  in  the  isle  of  France, 

The  capital,  at  this  time,  bore,  with  impatience,  the  high 
price  of  bread;  the  murmurs  of  the  inhabitants  were  general 
and  loud;  and  it  was  at  this  moment,  when  the  greatest  ad- 
dress was  necessary,  to  sooth  their  discontented  minds,  that 
the  court  ventured  upon  a measure,  as  unpopular,  as  it  was 
unwise.  On  the  eleventh  of  July,  Necker,  who  had  so  long 
enjoyed  the  confidence  of  the  multitude,  received  the  royal 
orders  immediately  to  quit  the  kingdom.  The  intelligence 
of  his  departure,  filled  Paris  with  consternation.  The  peo- 
ple regarded  his  exile  as  the  first  step  towards  the  subver- 
sion of  their  freedom.  The  bells  were  sounded,  as  signals 
for  the  citizens  to  arm.  The  regiment  of  French  guards 
ranged  itself  on  the  side  of  the  populace.  The  crowd  at- 
tacked the  hotel  of  invalids;  and,  having  there  got  possession 
of  thirty-thousand  fusees,  pressed  forward  to  the  Bastile. 
The  massy  walls  of  this  celebrated  fortress  of  despotism, 
with  the  wide  and  deep  ditch  that  surrounded  them,  might 
have  defied  the  frantic  valour  of  the  insurgents,  had  they 
been  confided  to  any  other  person,  than  the  marquis  de 
Launay.  But,  the  conduct  of  that  officer  was  equally  fatal 
to  his  life  and  reputation.  He  rejected  the  demand  of  the 
people,  to  remove  the  artillery  from  the  ramparts,  yet  he  ne- 
glected to  raise  the  draw-bridge,  and  suffered  a crowd  to 
place  themselves  upon  it.  On  these  unhappy  people,  who 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


27% 

peaceably  awaited  the  result  of  a parley  which  he  held?  he 
suddenly  fired.  Several  were  the  victims  of  this  guilty 
rashness;  but  the  populace,  instead  of  being  intimidated, 
were  only  irritated,  by  the  fate  of  their  companions:  they 
pressed  forward,  in  thousands,  to  avenge  them:  resistance 
was  in  vain:  after  a siege  of  nearly  five  hours,  each  avenue 
was  forced,  de  Launay,  a prisoner,  loaded  with  insults, 
was  dragged  to  the  place  of  public  execution,  and  his  head, 
severed  from  his  body,  was  carried,  in  triumph,  through  the 
streets. 

In  the  gloomy  apartments  of  this  justly  dreaded  state- 
prison,  was  found,  amongst  other  engines  of  cruelty,  an  iron 
cage,  containing  the  skeleton  of  a man,  who  had  probably 
lingered  out  a considerable  part  of  his  existence,  in  that  horrid 
abode.  Amongst  the  prisoners,  released  by  its  destruction, 
were  major  White,  a native  of  Scotland,  and  the  count  de 
Lorges.  The  former,  by  long  confinement  and  misery,  ap- 
peared to  have  his  intellectual  faculties  much  impaired;  and, 
from  being  unaccustomed  to  converse  with  mankind,  had 
forgotten  the  use  of  speech:  the  latter  was  exhibited,  to  the 
public,  at  the  Palais  Royal;  and,  by  his  squalid  appearance, 
his  white  beard,  which  descended  to  his  waist,  and  his  imbe- 
cility, the  effect  of  an  imprisonment  of  two-and-thirty  years, 
was  rendered  an  object  perfectly  calculated  to  operate  upon 
the  pa  ssions  of  every  spectator.  The  walls  of  the  Bastile,  were 
levelled,  by  the  populace,  to  the  ground.  The  great  key  of 
the  outer  gate,  was  afterwards  presented,  by  La  Fayette,  to 
his  friend  and  fellow-soldier,  general  Washington;  and  is 
now  preserved,  as  a trophy  of  the  French  revolution,  at 
Mount- Vernon. 

If  the  state  of  the  capital  was  deplorable,  that  of  the 
army  was  not  less  critical.  The  example  of  the  French 
guards,  had  pervaded  the  camp:  the  soldiers  openly  declared 
their  resolution  not  to  arm  against  their  fellow-citizens;  the 
defeettbn  became  general,  and  marshal  Broglio  was  reluc- 
tantly compelled  to  inform  the  king,  that  his  majesty  must 
no  longer  place  any  reliance  upon  the  forces  which  he  had 
been  appointed  to  command.  The  example  of  Paris  and 
Versailles  prevailed  throughout  the  kingdom.  The  new  na 
tional,  or  tricoloured  cockade,  was  universally  displayed, 
and  the  voice  of  the  people  was  every  where  predominant. 
Two-millions  of  peasants,  in  arms,  severely  avenged  the 
wrongs  they  had  formerly  suffered.  The  rich  edifices  of 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


273 

the  churc  h,  the  lofty  castles  of  the  nobles,  were  confounded, 
in  one  general  ruin:  the  archives  of  the  great,  the  titles  of 
ancient  possessions,  were,  in  a moment,  destroyed;  and 
those  owners  deemed  themselves  happy,  who  could  escape, 
by  a hasty  flight. 

At  Marseilles,  a body  of  young  men  seized  upon  a fort, 
in  which  the  military  were  posted,  expelled  the  garrison, 
and  demolished  it,  together  with  the  two  fortresses  of  St. 
Nicholas  and  St.  John;  on  the  latter  of  which,  a Latin  in- 
scription had  long  insulted  that  venerable  city,  to  this  ef- 
fect,— 66  This  tower  was  erected,  by  Louis  XIV.,  lest  his 
faithful  people  of  Marseilles,  should  become  infatuated  with 
the  love  of  liberty.” 

The  marquis  de  la  Fayette  was  selected,  by  his  country- 
men, to  command  the  militia  which  they  had  newly  formed, 
called  the  National  Guards. 

The  calm,  however,  which  the  presence  of  the  king  had 
diffused  throughout  the  capital,  was  deceitful,  and  of  short 
duration.  The  slightest  suspicions  were  sufficient,  in  the  eyes 
of  the  populace,  to  sanction  the  most  barbarous  executions; 
and  each  day  beheld  some  new  sacrifice  to  their  sanguinary 
caprice.  M.  de  Foulon,  a member  of  the  new  administration, 
with  his  nephew  Berthier,  and  the  sieur  Chatel,  lieutenant 
to  the  mayor  of  St.  Dennis,  were  put  to  death,  with  every 
circumstance  of  furious  triumph.  The  flight  of  more  illus- 
trious persons,  saved  them,  it  is  probable,  from  a similar 
fate.  The  count  d’ Artois,  the  prince  of  Conde,  and  the 
prince  of  Conti,  the  marshal  de  Broglio,  and  the  family  of 
Polignac,  sought  shelter,  in  foreign  countries,  from  the  popu- 
lar vengeance;  thus,  commencing  the  emigration;  and  many 
others  soon  followed  their  example,  and,  with  several  of  the 
former,  employed  themselves  in  exciting  all  Europe  to  war 
against  their  native  land. 

Meanwhile,  the  reformation  of  the  state  was  discussed,  by 
the  national  assembly,  with  indefatigable  zeal.  The  cruel 
and  outrageous  parts  of  the  feudal  claims,  and  every  branch 
of  the  ancient  system  of  society,  were  examined,  with  a most 
scrutinizing  eye.  In  some  cantons,  the  vassals  were  sub- 
jected to  be  yoked,  like  cattle,  to  the  carriages  of  the  nobility; 
in  others,  they  were  compelled  to  pass  whole'  nights,  in 
beating  the  ponds,  in  order  that  the  rest  of  their  superior 
lords  might  not  be  disturbed,  by  the  croaking  of  frogs;  in 
some,  the  poor  were  obliged  to  maintain  the  noblemen’s 


2T4 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


hounds;  and  the  lord,  on  his  return  from  hunting,  was  au- 
thorized to  rip  open  the  bowels  of  two  of  his  vassals,  that  he 
might  foment  his  feet,  for  his  refreshment. 

Feudal  services,  were,  by  a resolution  of  the  assembly, 
abolished;  also,  the  game-laws,  lettres  de  cachet,  with  dis- 
tinctions of  dress,  and  tythes.  On  the  motion  of  M.Talley- 
rand  de  Perigord,  bishop  of  Autun,  the  estates  of  the  church 
were  appropriated  to  the  public  service;  and,  on  the  pro- 
position of  M.  Lambel,  supported  by  La  Fayette,  de  St. 
Fargeau,  and  the  count  de  Noailles,  hereditary  nobility,  and 
every  species  of  titles, — in  which,  were  included  even  mon- 
sieur and  madame,— were  abolished,  together  with  liveries, 
armorial  bearings,  and  every  thing  that  had  hitherto  decorated 
and  distinguished  polished  life.  The  ancient  divisions  of 
the  kingdom,  into  provinces,  were  likewise  changed;  and 
France  was  now  divided  into  eighty-three  departments, 
nearly  equal  in  dimensions  and  population;  in  conformity 
with  a plan  presented  by  the  abbe  Sieyes. 

The  motion  for  the  abolition  of  titl  es,  was  warmly  combated, 
by  M.  Foucault. — “What,”  he  asked,  “ would  you  do  with 
the  man  whose  brevet  recited  that  he  was  created  a count, 
for  saving  the  state?” — La  Fayette,  with  Attic  sententious- 
ncss,  replied  “I  would  omit  the  words,  created  a count , and 
insert  only,  that  he  had  saved  the  state.” 

The  amazing  wealth,  possessed  by  nineteen  archbishops, 
and  one-hundred-and-twenty-two  bishops;  the  immense  re- 
venues belonging  to  twelve-hundred-and-eighty-eight  ab- 
beys, twelve-thousand-four-hundred  priories,  and  fourteen- 
thousand-seven-hundred-and-eighty  convents,  might  well 
excite  the  surprise,  and  envy  also,  of  the  people. 

The  constitution,  which  had  been  promised  by  the  assem- 
bly, was  at  length  completed,  and  with  it,  a declaration  of 
the  Rights  of  Man.  Of  the  former,  three  drafts  were  select- 
ed, from  a considerable  number,  presented  by  various  mem- 
bers;— these,  the  respective  productions  of  La  Fayette,  the 
abbe  Sieyes,  and  Mounier,  were,  on  the  motion  ofMirabeau, 
published,  and  afterwards  condensed,  by  a committee,  ii>to 
nineteen  resolutions;  many  of  them  being  similar,  in  their 
principles,  to  the  leading  features  of  the  constitution  of  Great 
Britain  and  of  the  United  States;  and  the  first  declaring, 
that  all  power  was  originally  derived  from  the  people,  and 
could  continue  to  flow  from  that  source  alone: 

In  the  revolution,  which  thus  gradually  unfolds  itself,  the 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


275 


mind  of  the  reader  is  scarcely  cheered  by  the  prospect  of  tran- 
quillity, before  it  is  again  overcast,  by  the  gathering  storms 
of  civil  commotion.  The  hopes  arising  from  the  expected 
influence  of  the  new  constitution,  were  blasted  by  the  chill- 
ing breath  of  famine.  Neither  the  exertions  of  the  committee 
of  subsistence,  nor  the  precautions  of  the  minister  of  finance, 
nor  the  liberality  of  the  duke  of  Orleans,  who  devoted  his 
immense  revenue,  to  alleviate  the  public  distress,  could  pre- 
vent the  Parisians  from  being  assailed  by  that  scarcity,  which 
still  afflicted  France,  and  was  felt,  in  some  measure,  by  the 
neighbouring  kingdoms.  The  progress  of  discontent  was 
rapid  and  frightful.  On  the  fifth  of  October,  a young  woman, 
having  entered  a guard-house,  seized  a drum,  and  ran 
through  the  streets,  beating  it,  and  crying,  Bread ! Bread ! 
Several  thousand,  of  the  most  licentious  and  daring  of  the 
rabble,  chiefly  women,  soon  collected,  from  the  markets  and 
public  halls,  armed  with  fusees,  pistols,  staves,  and  pikes, 
and  every  weapon  that  their  blind  fury  could  supply;  and, 
draggingtwo  pieces  of  cannon,  set  out  for  Versailles,  distant 
about  twelve  miles;  and,  having  rushed,  tumultuously,  into 
the  hall  of  the  national  assembly,  and  afterwards,  in  the  dead 
of  night,  invaded,  with  terrific  fury,  the  royal  palace,  and 
even  the  bed-chamber  of  the  queen,  they  compelled  Louis 
himself  to  accompany  them  to  Paris. 

The  queen  was  resolved  to  follow  her  husband;  but  the 
opposition  was  so  strong  against  her,  that  the  journey  was  not 
without  danger.  It  was  necessary  to  reconcile  the  multitude; 
and  La  Fayette  proposed  to  accompany  her  to  the  balcony. 
After  some  hesitation,  she  consented.  They  appeared  to- 
gether; and,  in  order  to  make  himself  understood,  by  this 
tumultuous  assembly; — in  order  to  overcome  their  animosi- 
ties— to  revive  their  enthusiasm- — La  Fayette  kissed,  with 
the  profoundest  respect,  the  hand  of  the  queen,  and  the 
multitude  responded,  by  a general  shout  of  Vive  la  Reine  ! 

The  carriages  of  the  royal  family,  were  placed  in  the 
middle  of  an  immeasurable  column,  consisting  partly  of  the 
soldiers  of  La  Fayette,  partly  of  the  rabble,  whose  march 
had  preceded  his.  The  latter  rushed  along,  howling  their 
songs  of  triumph.  Their  van  carried,  on  pikes,  the  bloody 
heads  of  two  of  the  royal  body-guards,  whom  they  had 
murdered,  as  emblems  of  their  success;  and  were  singing 
songs,  of  which  the  burthen  was — 44  We  bring  you  the  baker, 
his  wife,  and  his  little  apprentice;  ” as  if  the  presence  of  the 


276 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


unhappy  family,  would  increase  the  quantity  of  bread.  Some 
of  the  women  rode  upon  the  cannon;  many  of  them  were 
mounted  on  the  horses  of  the  guards  de  corps , (whom  they 
had  dismounted)  some  after  the  fashion  of  men,  others  behind 
the  saddle;  the  whole  exhibiting  one  of  the  most  ferocious 
and  disgusting  spectacles,  that  ever  disgraced  a civilized 
people. 

M.  Necker  now  silently  abandoned  his  station:  the  na- 
tional assembly  removed  also  to  the  capital,  and  the  power 
of  the  sovereign  was  reduced  to  an  empty  shadow. 

Q Throughout  the  year  which  succeeded  these  im- 
' c * portant  events,  the  zeal  ol  the  assembly,  for  the  pub- 
lic welfare,  did  not  become  less  ardent.  On  the  fourteenth 
of  July,  the  anniversary  of  the  destruction  ot  the  Bastile,  a 
grand  national  festival  was  celebrated,  in  the  Champ  de 
Mars;  at  which,  the  king,  in  presence  of  a million  of  citizens, 
swore  that  he  would  employ  the  whole  power  delegated  to 
him,  to  maintain  the  constitution,  and  enforce  the  execution 
of  the  law. 

Trial  by  jury,  in  civil  cases,  was  soon  afterwards  estab- 
lished: the  law  of  primogeniture,  by  which  the  eldest  son,  on 
the  death  of  his  ancestor,  intestate,  enjoys  the  whole  of  his 
real  estate,  was  repealed;  and  it  was  decreed,  that  the  pro- 
perty of  persons  dying  without  having  made  a will,  should 
be  equally  divided  amongst  his  children,  or  his  relations  in 
the  next  degree:  the  protestants  were  restored  to  those 
possessions  of  which  their  ancestors  had  been  deprived,  by 
the  revocation  of  the  edict  of  Nantz:  all  extraordinary  taxes 
on  the  Jews,  were  abolished;  as  well  as  the  execrable  droit 
d'aubaine , which  decreed  to  the  king,  the  property  of  foreign- 
ers who  died  in  France** 

It  was  also  decreed,  that  the  legislative  body  should  be 
elected  every  second  year;  that  it  should  annually  determine 
the  amount  of  the  public  expenditure  and  contributions;  that 
the  appointment  of  ministers  should  be  vested  in  the  king, 
but  that  their  number  should  be  regulated  by  law;  that,  under 
the  king,  an  administration  should  be  established,  in  each  de- 
partment, for  the  regulation  and  collection  of  the  revenue; 
and  that,  to  supply  the  place  of  current  coin,  which  was 
continually  carried  off  by  the  emigrants,  emissions  should  be 
made  of  national  promissory  notes,  called  assignats. 

* This  law  is  most  happily  satirized,  by  Sterne,  in  his  Sentimental  Journey- 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


277 


On  the  thirty-first  of  October,  a decree  was  passed,  by 
which  the  national  flag  of  France,  which  hitherto  had  been 
white,  was  changed  to  the  tricoloured,  or  flag  composed  of 
three  vertical  stripes,  of  blue,  red,  and  white. 

Q1  But  the  national  assembly  was  soon  deprived  of 
' ‘ * one  of  its  most  brilliant  members.  On  the  second 
of  April,  Mirabeau  was  suddenly  carried  off,  by  an  internal 
disease,  in  the  forty-third  year  of  his  age.  With  a mind 
vigorous  and  comprehensive,  intuitive  and  acute,  severely 
tried  in  adversity,  intimate  with  the  intrigues  and  follies, 
the  dissipations  and  other  vices  of  courts;  his  deep  penetra- 
tion, his  fortitude,  his  fluent  eloquence,  his  powerful  voice, 
were  all  adapted  to  command  attention.  Uniting  a talent 
for  repartee,  with  the  powers  of  profound  reasoning,  he  was 
always  ready  to  disconcert  or  refute.  Few  statesmen  pos- 
sessed more  extensive  views;  few  orators  have  been  capable 
of  bolder  flights,  of  a more  passionate  address,  or  a more 
energetic  expression.  His  funeral  was  conducted  with  ex- 
traordinary pomp;  and  his  remains  were  deposited  near  those 
of  the  great  philosopher,  Des  Cartes;  but,  in  the  following 
year,  the  fickle  populace,  with  every  mark  of  ignominy,  dis- 
persed his  ashes  in  the  air. 

The  public  attention  was  soon  turned  from  honouring  the 
memory  of  an  individual,  to  making  provision  for  the  safety 
of  the  nation.  The  princes  at  the  head  of  despotic  govern- 
ments, were  interested  in  crushing  the  present  revolution,  and 
extinguishing  a flame  which  threatened  to  consume  themselves. 
A league  was,  at  length,  formed,  against  the  rising  liberties 
of  France,  by  the  most  powerful  sovereigns  of  the  continent. 
Troops  were  advancing,  from  Germany,  on  the  north,  from 
Spain,  on  the  south,  and  from  Italy  and  Savoy,  on  the  east; 
the  emigrant  troops  had  been  reviewed,  by  the  prince  ol 
Conde,  on  the  borders  of  Alsace;  and  France  might  be  said 
to  be  besieged*  by  hostile  armies. 

To  deprive  the  associate  powers  ot  every  apology  for  in- 
vasion, by  showing  them  that  Louis  acquiesced  in  the  late  re- 
formation of  the  state,  the  king,  at  the  request  of  the  depart- 
ment of  Paris,  notified  to  them,  through  his  ambassadors,  his 
full  approbation  of  the  constitution.  But,  while  he  made 
this  declaration,  with  so  much  seeming  cordiality,  he  was 
evidently  corresponding  with  the  invaders  of  his  country, 
and  preparing  to  escape.  On  the  twentieth  of  June,  about 
midnight,  the  whole  of  the  royal  family,  then  at  Paris,  secret- 


27  8 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


ly  left  the  palace,  in  disguise;  and,  having  reached  the  bou- 
levards, there  found  two  carriages  in  waiting;  in  which,  they 
proceeded  towards  the  frontier.  The  king  had,  in  general 
Bouille,  a devoted  and  active  partisan,  who  promised  him  a 
refuge  and  support  in  his  army.  Bouille  prepared  every 
thing  for  his  reception.  Under  a pretext  of  a movement  of 
the  enemy’s  troops  on  the  frontier,  he  established  a camp  at 
Montmedy;  and  placed  detachments  of  cavalry,  upon  the 
route  which  the  king  was  to  follow,  to  serve  as  an  escort;  pre- 
tending that  they  were  to  protect  the  military  chest,  des- 
tined for  the  payment  of  the  army.  The  king  and  queen, 
the  dauphin  and  princess  royal,  with  the  king’s  sister,  were 
in  one  carriage;  the  king’s  brother,  the  count  of  Provence, 
with  his  wife,  were  in  another.  Louis,  with  his  party,  pas- 
sed unsuspected,  nearly  one-hundred-and-seventy  miles  from 
Paris;  although  he  had  entered  into  familiar  conversation 
with  different  people,  at  several  post-houses,  where  they  had 
occasion  to  stop.  To  favour  their  escape,  the  royal  family 
had  procured  passports,  in  the  name  of  the  baroness  de  Kroff, 
for  herself  and  suite,  as  travelling  to  Frankfort.  But,  all 
their  precautions  were  not  sufficient,  to  prevent  detection. 
At  St.  Menehould,  a few  leagues  from  the  frontiers,  the  post- 
master, Drouet,  who  had  formerly  been  a dragoon,  in  the 
regiment  of  Conde,  recognized  the  queen.  He  set  off,  on 
horseback,  for  Clermont;  where  he  learned,  that  the  travel- 
lers had  taken  the  road  to  Varennes;  towards  which  place, 
he  proceeded,  by  cross  roads,  with  so  much  speed,  as  to 
reach  the  inn  of  Bras  (P Or,  a few  minutes  before  them. 
The  innkeeper  instantly  ran  to  a magistrate,  who  summoned 
the  municipal  officers  and  the  national  guards.  It  was  now 
midnight,  the  royal  party  had  arrived,  and  measures  were 
taken  to  ensure  their  detention.  While  the  magistrates 
were  proceeding  to  the  inn,  Drouet  seized  a wagon,  laden 
with  furniture,  which  he  placed  at  the  foot  of  a bridge,  over 
which  the  travellers  must  necessarily  pass,  in  their  way  out 
of  the  town.  Several  peisons  noticed  the  resemblance  of 
the  king,  to  the  portrait  on  the  fifty-livre  assignat;  others 
remarked,  that  the  children  corresponded,  in  number  and 
age,  to  the  children  of  the  royal  family;  and  all  agreed,  that 
it  was  very  extraordinary  a Russian  baroness  should  be  so 
strongly  escorted  by  French  troops. 

Meanwhile,  a judge  of  the  district,  wlm  had  frequently 
seen  Louis,  was  sent  for,  and,  on  his  entering  the  apartment. 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


£79 


in  which  the  royal  family  were  now  assembled,  signified,  by 
an  expressive  look,  to  one  of  the  magistrates,  that  it  was  un- 
questionably the  king.  The  unhappy  prince  saw  that  further 
dissimulation  would  be  vain;  and,  addressing  himself,  with 
great  emotion,  to  the  magistrates, — “Yes,”  said  he,  “ 1 
am  your  king.  I have  fled  from  Paris,  where  I was  sur- 
rounded with  poniards  and  bayonets:  I have  come  to  my 
faithful  subjects  of  this  province,  in  search  of  liberty  and 
safety;  I mean  to  proceed  no  farther  than  Montmedy — I 
entreat  you  not  to  impede  me.  ” 

The  queen  also  addressed  them,  and  conjured  all  around, 
to  save  herself  and  her  children.  But  the  magistrates  were 
inflexible,  and  declared  that  they  must  immediately  return 
to  Paris. 

The  royal  family  were  escorted,  on  their  return,  by  a con- 
siderable body  of  the  national  guards;  and  so  well  was  the 
public  tranquillity  preserved,  that  they  entered  the  city, 
without  any  disturbance,  on  the  twenty-fifth. 

The  count  of  Provence  and  his  wife,  who  had  taken  a 
different  road,  were  more  successful,  in  effecting  their  escape; 
and  arrived  safely  at  Brussels,  on  the  twenty-third. 

The  period  now  approached,  when  the  national  assembly, 
known  also  as  the  Constituent  Assembly,  was  to  terminate 
its  labours.  On  the  thirtieth  of  September,  having  first  pro- 
vided for  the  introduction  of  the  succeeding  members,  this 
illustrious  body  of  patriotic  legislators,  concluded  an  uninter- 
rupted session  of  two  years  and  eight  months,  and  spon- 
taneously dissolved  itself. 

With  the  first  national  assembly,  the  power  and  dignity 
of  the  monarchy  disappeared.  Unhappily  for  France,  the 
constituent  assembly  had  adopted  a regulation,  by  which  its 
members  were  rendered  ineligible  to  the  assembly  by  which  it 
was  to  be  succeeded.  As  the  former  contained  the  first  choice 
amongst  men  of  ability  throughout  the  nation,  it  followed 
that  the  latter  could  not  possess  an  equal  degree  of  talent. 
The  new  assembly,  distinguished  by  the  name  of  the  Legis- 
lative Assembly,  which  convened  on  the  first  day  of  October, 
consisted  chiefly  of  country  gentlemen;  whose  inexperience 
in  political  affairs,  rendered  them  incompetent  to  act  for 
themselves,  and  made  them  the  passive  instruments  of  a 
party,  which,  though  not  numerous,  compensated,  for  this 
deficiency,  by  its  talents,  activity,  and  boldness.  This 
party  consisted  chiefly  of  men  of  letters;  many  of  them,  but 


280 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


not  all.  of  the  highest  rank  m literature.  They  were  not 
unanimous,  on  every  point  of  government;  but,  in  this,  how- 
ever, they  agreed,  that  no  other  than  a pure  democracy,  was 
adapted  to  the  condition  of  freemen;  and  that  France  could 
never  be  happy  and  flourishing,  until  every  vestige  of 
monarchy  was  destroyed. 

Pastoret  was  elected  president;  and,  for  their  secretaries, 
they  chose  Francois,  Garron  de  Coulon,  Cerutte,  Lacepede, 
and  Guyton  Morveau. 

The  state  of  the  public  mind,  at  home,  and  the  grand 
conspiracy  abroad,  were  seized  upon,  with  avidity  and  alarm, 
by  the  Jacobin  society;  who,  at  this  period,  had  obtained  the 
plenitude  of  influence  and  power.  While  their  sittings 
were  held*  at  Versailles,  as  well  as  after  their  removal  to 
Paris,  public  topics  were  systematically  debated  by  them; 
particularly  such  as  had  become  the  subject  of  discussion  in 
the  assembly.  Their  debates  were  open  to  the  public;  and 
the  plaudits  of  the  galleries  incited  to  general  emulation. 
They  had  a president  and  secretary,  kept  a minute  of  theii 
proceedings,  and  appeared,  in  every  respect,  an  epitome  of 
the  national  assembly;  of  whose  members,  the  society  was 
likewise  principally  composed. 

The  ascendancy  of  the  Jacobin  club,  was  soon  evinced,  in 
the  appointment  of  ministers.  Dumourier  and  Lacoste,  two 
of  its  leading  members,  were  nominated  to  two  of  the  vacant 
departments,  of  foreign  affairs  and  the  marine;  and,  soon 
afterwards,  on  the  twenty-third  of  March,  the  king  announced 
the  appointment  of  three  more  of  the  popular  party,  Garniere, 
Roland,  and  Claviere.  Dumourier  and  Roland  were  the 
most  remarkable,  and  the  most  important  members  of  the 
council. 

66  Dumourier  was  forty-seven  years  of  age,  at  the  com- 
mencement of  the  revolution.  Up  to  that  time,  he  had  lived 
amidst  the  dissipations  and  the  intrigues  of  the  court.  The 
first  part  of  his  political  life,  was  spent  in  discovering  those 
by  whom  he  might  rise,  and  the  second,  those  who  were 
able  to  support  his  elevation.  A courtier  before  ?89,  a 
Constitutionalist  under  the  first  assembly,  a Girondist  under 
the  second,  a Jacobin  under  the  republic,  he  was  eminently 
the  creature  of  the  time.  But,  he  had  all  the  resources  of 
great  men — an  enterprising  disposition,  indefatigable  activity, 
and  prompt,  accurate,  and  extended  views;  extraordinary  im- 
petuosity in  action,  and  unbounded  confidence  in  success.” 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


£81 

“Roland  was  a contrast  to  Dumourier.  His  manners 
were  simple,  his  morals  severe,  and  his  opinions  tried:  he 
loved  liberty,  with  enthusiasm;  and  was  equally  capable  of 
consecrating  to  its  cause,  the  whole  of  his  existence,  or  of 
perishing  for  its  sake,  without  ostentation,  and  without  regret. 
He  was  a man  worthy  of  being  born  in  a republic,  but  was 
misplaced  in  a revolution.  He  was  ill-fitted  for  the  agitations 
and  struggles  of  parties;  his  talents  were  not  great;  his  dis- 
position was  rather  unbending;  he  knew  neither  how  to  appre- 
ciate, nor  how  to  govern  men;  and,  though  laborious,  intelli- 
gent, and  active,  he  would  have  figured  little,  without  the  aid 
of  his  wife.  All  that  was  deficient  in  him,  was  supplied  by  her 
— force  and  elevation  of  mind,  ability,  and  foresight.  Madame 
Roland  was  the  soul  of  the  Girondists.  She  was  the  point 
around  which  assembled  those  brilliant  and  courageous  men, 
to  discuss  the  wants  and  the  dangers  of  their  country.  It  was 
she  who  roused  those  whom  she  knew  to  be  able  in  action, 
and  directed  to  the  tribune  the  efforts  of  those  whom  she 
knew  to  be  eloquent.”* 

The  court  named  the  new  council,  the  Sans-Culotte  minis- 
try A The  first  time  that  Roland  appeared  at  the  palace, 
with  strings  in  his  shoes,  and  a round  hat,  which  were  against 
the  rules  of  etiquette,  the  master  of  the  ceremonies  refused 
to  admit  him.  But,  forced,  at  length,  to  allow  him  to  pass, 
he  thus  addressed  Dumourier:  46  What,  Sir,  without  buckles 
in  his  shoes!” — 44  Aye,  Sir,  all  is  lost!”  replied  Dumourier, 
with  the  greatest  coolness. 

This  period  is  remarkable  for  the  introduction  of  the 
Guillotine,  as  a substitute  for  the  axe,  in  decapitation;  an 
instrument  which  derived  its  name  from  a surgeon,  by  whom 
it  was  invented. 

Amongst  the  calamities,  which,  at  this  time,  agitated  the 
nation,  the  dissentions  incited  by  the  clergy  were  not  the 
least  grievous  and  important.  They  were  increased  by  the 
presumptuous  interference  of  the  court  of  Rome.  The  pope 

* The  deputies  of  the  Gironde,  sat  at  the  left  side  of  the  Assembly, 
and  gave  name  to  the  party  called  Girondists,  who  were  moderate  re- 
publicans. 

t The  literal  signification  of  “ sans  culotle ,”  is,  “ without  breeches .” 
The  queen  had  applied  it,  as  a sarcasm  on  the  representatives  of  the 
people;  implying,  that  fellows  without  breeches,  had  become  the  go- 
vernors; and  thenceforward,  it  was  adopted,  as  a title  of  pride,  by  th? 
republicans. 


2 A 2 


282 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


had  prohibited  the  clergy,  under  the  most  terrific  anathemas, 
from  conforming  to  the  decrees  of  the  French  legislature, 
and  from  subscribing  to  the  civic  oath.  In  consequence  of 
which,  a decree  was  passed,  which  expelled,  from  their  bene- 
fices, all  who,  paying  obedience  to  a foreign  authority,  should 
be  so  disregardful  of  their  duty  to  their  country,  as  to  oppose 
its  laws;  and  thus,  there  remained,  in  the  heart  of  France, 
an  immense  body  of  disaffected  persons,  united  amongst  them- 
selves, obedient  to  a foreign  hierarchy,  looking  confidently 
to  the  king,  and  possessing  an  influence  over  the  minds  of 
the  people,  capable  of  being  turned  to  the  desolation  of  the 
country,  and  yet  difficult  to  be  suppressed. 

While  the  emperor  was  making  preparations  against  the 
French  nation,  in  a clandestine  manner,  the  northern  powers 
were  more  open  and  decided.  Prussia,  Sweden,  and  Russia, 
entered  into  strict  engagements,  for  the  restoration  of  the 
ancient  despotism  of  France. 

The  French,  on  their  part,  were  not  remiss,  in  preparing 
against  the  approaching  storm.  La  Fayette  had  already 
proceeded  to  assume  the  command,  on  the  frontiers;  Rocham- 
beau  and  Luckner  were  now  promoted  to  the  rank  of  mar- 
shals; new  levies  were  ordered,  and  the  whole  country  as- 
sumed the  garb  of  war. 

1 792  The  sudden  death  of  the  emperor  Leopold,  produced 

' * no  change  in  the  councils  of  the  Austrian  court.  Ilis 

son,  Francis  II.,  (brother  of  the  queen  of  France  ) pursued 
the  same  designs,  and  on  the  twentieth  of  April,  by  the  re- 
commendation of  Louis  himself,  to  the  assembly,  war  was 
formally  declared  against  him. 

On  the  twenty-eighth,  three  divisions  of  French  troops  en- 
tered the  Austrian  Netherlands,  under  the  respective  com- 
mands of  field-marshal  Arthur  Dillon,  and  generals  Biron 
and  Carl.  But,  from  a want  of  proper  concert  in  their  move- 
ments, their  operations  were  unsuccessful:  after  several 
engagements,  they  were  obliged  to  retreat;  and  the  unfortu- 
nate Dillon,  being  unjustly  suspected  of  having  betrayed 
his  army,  was  murdered,  by  his  flying  companions,  as  soon 
as  they  had  entered  the  gates  of  Lisle,  and  his  dead  body 
torn  to  pieces,  by  the  soldiers  and  the  mob. 

Indignant  at  the  mismanagement  of  ministers,  and  disap- 
proving of  offensive  war,  Rochambeau  asked  permission  to 
resign,  and  marshal  Luckner  was  appointed  to  command  the 
northern  forces,  in  his  stead. 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


£83 


While  the  army  was  thus  making  its  first  essay  in  the  field, 
the  republican  party  were  assiduously  employed,  in  the  legis- 
lative hall.  The  last  stone  of  the  fabric  of  monarchal  go- 
vernment, was  about  to  be  overturned.  Danton  is  said  to 
have  been  the  first  to  conceive  and  form  the  bold  project  of 
the  republic.  But,  there  were  others,  whose  lives  having 
been  devoted  to  political  studies,  had,  without  any  concert 
with  Danton  and  his  associates,  long  turned  their  attention 
to  the  same  object.  The  chief  of  these  were  Condorcet, 
Brissot,  and  Thomas  Paine  (the  latter  already  distinguished, 
in  the  American  states,  by  the  vigour  of  his  pen)  who  had 
established  a gazette,  called  Le  Republicain ; in  the  very  first 
number  of  which,  their  principles  were  openly  avowed. 

On  the  twelfth  of  June,  the  king  may  be  said  to  have  un- 
sheathed the  sword.  He  announced,  to  the  assembly,  the 
dismissal  of  Servan,  Claviere,  and  Roland;  a step  taken  at 
the  desire  of  Dumourier;  whose  application  of  a considerable 
sum  of  the  public  money,  to  the  use  of  his  mistress,  madame 
de  Beauvert,  had  excited  the  remonstrance  of  the  virtuous 
Roland. 

On  the  eighteenth,  general  Chambon  was  appointed  minis- 
ter for  foreign  affairs,  Montceil  of  the  interior,  and  Lajard 
minister  of  war. 

Deeply  interesting  events  followed  each  other,  with  the 
rapidity  of  thought.  With  good  intentions,  but  little  wisdom, 
La  Fayette  addressed  a letter  to  the  assembly,  from  his  camp, 
at  Maubege;  in  which,  he  drew  a formidable  picture  of  the 
dangerous  state  of  the  nation,  and  accused  the  Jacobins  of 
criminal  designs.  The  Jacobins  denounced  him,  as  a traitor. 
Their  meetings  became  scenes  of  unusual  turbulence;  and, 
without  doors,  the  spirit  of  disorder  hourly  increased.  On 
the  twentieth,  a multitude  of  men,  women,  and  children,  in 
number  at  least  twenty-thousand,  traversed  the  hall  of  the 
assembly,  with  a petition;  displaying  banners  of  a revolution- 
ary character,  and  singing  the  famous  national  air  of  $a  ira  9 
Thence,  they  proceeded  to  the  royal  palace.  There  was  a 
strong  military  guard,  for  the  protection  of  the  king,  but 
Louis  would  not  allow  them  to  be  repelled  by  force.  At  four 
o’clock,  the  populace  were  computed  at  forty-thousand;  and 
the  gates  of  the  Tuileries  were  thrown  open,  to  admit  them. 
The  royal  family  were  at  dinner,  and  a pike,  which  had  been 
thrust  against  the  door  of  the  room  in  which  they  sat,  would 
have  killed  the  king,  had  not  a chasseur  turned  aside  the 


284 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


weapon,  with  his  hand.  One  of  the  mob  now  advanced,  and 
insisted  upon  Louis  wearing  a red  cap,  (the  ensign  of  the 
Jacobins,)  which  was  presented  to  him,  on  the  point  of  a 
pike;  while  another  presented  to  him  a bottle,  and  desired 
him  to  drink  the  health  of  the  nation;  with  both  of  which 
insulting  requests,  he,  with  apparent  willingness,  complied. 

During  the  whole  of  this  disgraceful  tumult,  the  princess 
Elizabeth  continued  close  by  the  side  of  her  brother.  On  the 
first  breaking  in  of  the  rabble,  the  queen  fainted,  and,  with 
her  children,  was  accidentally  separated  from  her  husband, 
and  conveyed  to  the  apartment  of  the  king’s  physician.  As 
soon  as  she  recovered,  she  attempted  to  penetrate  to  the 
king,  but  was  stopped,  in  her  way,  by  the  mob  breaking 
into  the  council-chamber.  Fortunately,  Lajard,  the  minister 
of  war,  and  a military  officer,  had  retired  to  the  same  spot; 
the  minister  formed  a kind  of  rampart,  of  the  great  council- 
table,  which  he  placed  against  the  door,  with  a double  row 
of  national  guards  before  it.  Behind  the  table,  stood  the 
queen,  with  her  children  and  some  ladies;  in  which  situation, 
she  remained,  during  the  whole  time  of  this  brutal  visit; 
condemned  to  hear  the  most  indecent  reproaches,  from  the 
meanest  and  most  depraved  of  her  own  sex. 

The  approach  of  night  delivered  the  unhappy  family  from 
this  persecution.  The  mayor  persuaded  the  people  to  dis- 
perse, and,  between  eight  and  nine  o’clock,  these  unwelcome 
intruders  left  the  palace. 

La  Fayette  now  conceived  it  expedient  to  present  himself 
before  the  assembly.  He  appeared  at  the  bar,  and  demand- 
ed, in  the  name  of  his  army,  that  order,  obedience,  and  re- 
spect for  the  laws,  should  be  restored;  and  entreated  the 
assembly  to  save  his  country  from  ruin,  by  dissolving  the 
factious  clubs,  and  punishing  the  promoters  of  the  late  dis- 
graceful riots. 

To  speak  in  the  mildest  terms,  the  conduct  of  La  Fayette 
was,  in  this  instance,  most  imprudent.  The  Jacobins  were 
filled  with  indignation.  The  appellations  of  Cromwell  and 
Monk  were  applied  to  him,  by  a thousand  presses;  and  the 
popular  dislike  proceeded  so  far,  as  to  burn  him  in  effigy. 
In  the  assembly,  he  was  violently  attacked:  a design  was 
formed  to  arrest  him;  and,  to  escape  the  danger  to  which  he 
had  exposed  himself,  he  left  the  city,  on  the  thirtieth,  and  set 
out  directly  for  the  army. 

At  length,  an  insulting  and  sanguinary  manifesto,  issued  at 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


£85 


Coblentz,  on  the  twenty-fifth  of  July,  by  the  duke  of  Bruns- 
wick, commander-in-chief  of  the  Austrian  and  Prussian 
armies,  reached  Paris.  The  emperor  and  the  king  of  Prussia, 
in  their  joint  proclamation,  had  asserted,  that  46  the  king  was 
not  sincere,  in  accepting  the  constitution:” — this  manifesto 
contained  the  same  insinuation;  and,  unfortunately,  the 
public  measures,  as  well  as  the  private  deportment  of  the 
king  and  the  court,  gave  strong  probability  to  the  assertion. 
This  fatal  declaration  accomplished  the  total  overthrow  of 
the  French  monarchy.  There  was  but  one  wish,  one  cry  of 
resistance,  from  one  end  of  France  to  the  other;  and  whoever 
had  not  joined  in  it,  would  have  been  regarded  as  guilty  of 
impiety  to  his  country,  and  the  sacred  cause  of  its  inde- 
pendence. On  the  third  of  August,  Petion,  the  mayor  of 
Paris,  at  the  head  of  the  sections  of  the  city,  appeared,  at  the 
bar,  to  demand  the  deposition  of  the  king;  and  a petition,  to 
the  same  effect,  which  had  lain  on  the  altar  of  the  Champ 
de  Mars,  was  presented,  on  the  sixth,  by  a countless  multi- 
tude, preceded  by  a person  carrying  a pike,  crowned  with 
a red  cap;  upon  which,  was  inscribed  44  The  deposition  of 
the  King.”  The  tenth  was  appointed  for  the  discussion  of  this 
momentous  subject.  The  movements  of  the  populace  were 
terrific.  No  alternatives  now  remained,  to  the  unhappy 
monarch,  but  flight,  or  resistance,  by  force  of  arms.  Pre- 
parations were  made  for  both.  The  Tuilleries  were  put  in 
a state  of  defence,  and  no  hope  of  the  return  of  harmony  or 
peace  remained.  Even  the  national  guards  evinced  disaffec- 
tion to  the  king.  The  palace  was  attacked.  A dreadful  scene 
ensued;  the  Swiss  guards,  the  gentlemen  ushers,  the  pages, 
and  all  who  came  in  the  way  of  the  insurgents,  were  cut  to 
pieces;  while  the  king  and  queen,  with  the  rest  of  the  royal 
family,  escorted  by  a body  of  three-hundred  Swiss,  having 
taken  shelter  in  the  hall  of  the  assembly,  thus  gained  a re- 
spite from  the  fury  of  the  mob. 

Almost  every  species  of  enormity  was  perpetrated,  upon 
this  occasion,  except  pillage.  An  ordinary  workman  of  the 
suburbs,  in  a dress  which  implied  abject  poverty,  made  his 
way  into  the  place  where  the  royal  family  were  seated ; de- 
manding the  king,  by  the  name  of  Monsieur  Veto.*  44  So,  you 
are  here,”  he  said,  44  beast  of  a Veto.  There,  is  a purse  of 

* The  term  ve/o,  (I  forbid,)  alludes  to  a power,  vested  in  Louis,  by 
tlie  first  revolutionary  constitution,  of  refusing  his  sanction  to  any 
particular  law,  of  which  he  disapproved. 


£86 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


gold,  I found  in  your  house  yonder.  If  you  had  found  mine, 
you  would  not  have  been  so  honest.’’ 

One  band  after  another,  of  the  ruthless  violators  of  the 
royal  mansion,  their  faces  blackened  with  powder,  their 
hands  and  weapons  streaming  with  blood,  came  to  invoke 
the  vengeance  of  the  assembly,  on  the  head  of  the  king  and 
royal  family;  and  expressed,  in  the  very  presence  of  the 
victims,  whom  they  claimed,  their  expectations  and  com- 
mands, as  to  the  manner  in  which  they  wished  them  to  be 
treated. 

Meanwhile,  the  assembly  continued  their  deliberations. 
The  authority  vested,  by  the  constitution,  in  the  king,  was 
revoked;  the  people  were  invited  to  meet,  in  primary  assem- 
blies, and  form  a national  convention;  the  following  day,  a 
new  executive  council  was  appointed,  consisting  of  Roland, 
Servan,  Claviere,  Monge,  Danton,  and  Le  Brun;  and  the 
royal  family  were  imprisoned  in  the  temple.  This  building 
is  an  ancient  fortress,  so  called  from  the  order  of  Knights- 
Templars;  to  whom,  before  their  suppression,  it  belonged. 

Petion,  the  mayor,  studiously  insulted  Louis,  by  his  visits 
to  the  prison.  The  municipal  officers,  sent  thither,  to  ensure 
the  custody  of  his  person,  and  to  be  spies  upon  his  private 
conversation,  were  selected  amongst  the  worst  and  most 
malignant  Jacobins.  Those,  also,  who  kept  watch  without, 
were  equally  ready  to  contribute  their  share  of  insult. 
Pictures  and  placards,  representing  the  royal  family  under 
the  hands  of  the  executioner,  were  posted  up  where  the  king 
and  queen  might  see  them.  The  most  violent  patriotic  songs, 
alluding  to  the  death  of  Monsieur  and  Madame  Veto,  were 
sung  below  their  windows;  and  the  most  frightful  cries  for 
their  blood,  disturbed  their  rest.  Every  article  was  taken 
from  the  king,  even  his  tooth-pick  and  penknife;  and  the 
queen  and  princesses  were  deprived  of  their  house-wives  and 
scissors.  This  led  to  an  affecting  remark  of  Louis.  Seeing 
his  sister,  while  at  work,  obliged  to  bite  asunder  a thread, 
which  she  had  no  means  of  cutting,  “Ah,”  he  exclaimed, 
“you  wanted  nothing,  in  your  pretty  house  at  Montreuil!” 
—“Dearest  brother,”  replied  the  affectionate  princess,  “ can 
I complain  of  any  thing,  since  Heaven  has  preserved  me  to 
share,  and  to  comfort,  in  some  degree,  your  hours  of  capti- 
vity ?” — The  prisoners  enjoyed.,  in  the  best  way  they  could, 
a short  interval,  during  which  they  were  allowed  to  walk  in 
the  gardens  of  the  Temple;  sure  of  being  insulted  by  the 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


28  7 


sentinels,  who  puffed  volumes  of  tobacco  smoke  in  their  faces, 
as  they  passed  them,  while  others  annoyed  the  ears  of  the 
females  with  licentious  songs. 

Louis  had  no  other  attendant  than  a single  servant,  Clery, 
who  was,  at  the  same  time,  the  attendant  of  all  his  family. 
During  the  early  part  of  his  detention,  he  had  not  been  se- 
parated from  the  latter,  and  he  had  experienced  some  con  • 
solution  from  the  society  of  his  family:  he  encouraged  and 
consoled  his  wife  and  sister;  and  officiated  as  preceptor  to 
his  son.  He  read  a great  deal,  and  particularly  in  the  His- 
tory of  England,  by  flume;  in  which,  he  found  many  instan- 
ces of  deposed  Kings,  particulary  that  of  Charles  I.,  who 
had  been  beheaded,  and  James  II.,  who  had  been  driven  from 
his  country,  by  the  nation. 

The  rage  of  the  populace  was  not  confined  to  the  living 
objects  of  their  resentment.  They  demolished  every  vestige 
of  art,  which  had  the  remotest  relation  either  to  monarchy 
or  aristocracy:  even  the  statue  of  Henry  IV.,  so  long  the 
idol  of  the  popular  party,  was  broken  to  pieces,  merely 
because  it  was  the  statue  of  a king;  and  the  busts  of  Necker, 
Mirabeau,  and  La  Fayette,  and  of  all  the  leading  members 
of  the  constitutional  party,  were  destroyed. 

La  Fayette  received  early  information  of  these  ferocious 
tumults.  His  situation  was  truly  dangerous.  As  a friend 
to  the  constitutional  monarchy,  his  life  was  not  secure,  even 
within  his  own  camp:  on  the  nineteenth  of  August,  therefore, 
he  left  his  army,  accompanied  only  by  his  staff,  and  a few 
servants,  and  took  the  route  of  Rocheforte,  in  Liege;  which, 
being  a neutral  country,  he  hoped  to  pass  unmolested;  but, 
an  Austrian  general  being  stationed  there,  with  an  advanced 
party,  arrested  the  fugitives,  contrary  to  the  law  of  nations, 
and  sent  them  prisoners  to  Namur;  whence,  they  were  con- 
veyed successively,  to  the  noisome  dungeons  of  Wesel,  Mag- 
deburg, Glatz,  and  Neisse,  and  finally  to  that  of  Olmutz; 
for  no  other  crime,  or  rather,  under  no  other  pretext,  than 
that  of  having  been  members  of  the  national  assembly  of 
France. 

The  sufferings  are  almost  incredible,  to  which  La  Fayette 
and  his  companions  were  exposed,  at  Olmutz,  through  the 
mere  spirit  of  barbarous  revenge.  The  walls  of  their  dun- 
geon were  twelve  feet  thick;  and  air  was  admitted  through  an 
opening  only  two  feet  square,  secured  by  transverse  iron 
bars.  Directly  before  this  loop-hole,  was  situated  a broad 


288 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


ditch,  which  was  covered  with  water  only  when  it  rained: 
at  other  times,  it  was  a stagnated  marsh,  constantly  emitting 
a poisonous  effluvium: — beyond  this,  were  the  outer  walls  ot 
the  castle,  so  that  although  the  heat  was  almost  insupportable, 
the  miserable  captives  could  never  be  refreshed  by  the  slight- 
est breeze.  On  these  walls,  were  stationed  sentinels,  with 
loaded  muskets,  who  were  prohibited  to  speak  a word  to 
them,  and  ordered  to  shoot  them  dead,  if  they  attempted  an 
escape.  A miserable  bed  of  rotten  straw,  together  with  a 
broken  chair,  and  an  old  worm-eaten  table,  formed  the  whole 
furniture  of  each  apartment.  When  it  rained,  the  water 
flowed  through  the  loop-holes,  and  off  the  walls,  in  so  large 
quantities,  that  they  would  sometimes  awake  in  the  morning 
drenched  to  the  skin;  and,  when  the  sun  did  not  shine,  which 
frequently  happened  in  that  humid  country,  the  prisoners 
remained  during  the  whole  day  almost  in  total  darkness. 
The  sufferings  of  La  Fayette  were  peculiarly  severe,  and 
proved  beyond  his  strength.  The  want  of  air,  and  of  decent 
food,  and  the  loathsome  tilth  and  dampness  of  his  prison, 
brought  him,  more  than  once,  to  the  borders  of  the  grave; 
and,  at  one  period,  he  was  reduced  so  low,  that  his  hair  fell 
entirely  from  his  head. 

But  his  friends  were  not  inactive.  In  the  month  of  June, 
1794,  they  prevailed  upon  Dr.  Erick  Bollmann,  w hose  adven- 
turous and  philanthropic  spirit  easily  induced  him  to  engage 
in  the  affairs  of  La  Fayette,  to  proceed  to  Germany,  to  learn 
what  had  been  the  fate  of  the  unfortunate  patriot,  and,  if  he 
were  still  alive,  endeavour  to  procure  his  escape. 

Exploring  Germany,  in  the  character  of  a traveller  in  pursuit 
of  know  ledge,  he  discovered  that  La  Fayette  had  been  surren- 
dered to  the  Austrian  government,  and  had  taken  the  route 
towards  Olmutz;  a strong  fortress  in  Moravia,  and  distant 
-from  Vienna  about  one-hundred-and -fifty  miles.  The  inde- 
fatigable inquiries  of  the  philanthropic  Bollmann,  recall  to 
our  minds,  the  anxious  search  of  the  troubadour  for  Richard 
Coeur  de  Lion.  At  Olmutz, he  ascertained  that  several  state 
prisoners  were  confined  in  the  citadel,  with  an  unusual  degree 
of  mystery  and  caution.  It  seemed  highly  probable,  that  La 
Fayette  wras  one  of  the  unhappy  captives;  and,  acting  upon 
this  supposition,  the  doctor  visited  the  hospital,  and  endea- 
voured to  form  an  acquaintance  with  the  surgeon.  The  sur- 
geon proved  to  be  a man  of  intelligence  and  feeling.  After 
several  interviews,  wrhen  the  conversation  turned  upon  the 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


£89 


effect  of  moral  impressions  on  the  constitution,  Dr.  Bollmann, 
drawing  a pamphlet  from  his  pocket,  abruptly  said;  “ Since 
we  are  on  the  subject,  you  attend  the  state  prisoners  here; 
La  Fayette  is  one  of  them;  his  health  is  much  impaired;  show 
him  this  pamphlet:  tell  him  that  it  was  left  with  you  by  a 
traveller,  who  lately  saw,  in  London,  all  the  persons  named 
in  it — his  particular  friends;  that  they  are  well,  and  continue 
attached  to  him,  as  much  as  ever.  This  intelligence  will 
do  him  more  good  than  all  your  drugs.”-— 

The  manner  of  the  surgeon  convinced  Dr.  Bollmann,  that 
La  Fayette  was  at  Olmutz;  and  he  knew  that  the  general 
would  devise  means  to  profit  by  the  opportunity,  should  he 
receive  this  pamphlet.  A few  days  afterwards,  the  surgeon 
mentioned,  of  his  own  accord,  that  La  Fayette  wished  to 
learn  some  further  particulars  respecting  the  situation  of  one 
or  two  of  them,  whom  he  named.  On  hearing  this,  the 
doctor  appearing  to  have  accidentally  about  him  some  white 
paper,  but  which  had,  in  fact,  been  prepared  for  the  emer- 

S,  sat  immediately  down,  and  wrote  a few  lines,  in  F rench, 
language  the  surgeon  understood,  in  reply  to  the  in- 
quiries made;  and  finished  with  the  sentence, “ 1 am  glad  of 
the  opportunity  of  addressing  to  you  these  few  words,  which, 
when  read  with  your  usual  warmth,  will  afford,  to  a heart 
like  yours,  some  consolation.  ’’—-The  paper  had  previously 
been  written  upon  with  sympathetic  ink;  a writing  which  is 
invisible,  unless  rendered  legible  by  the  application  of  heat. 
— The  slight  hint  conveyed  in  the  last  sentence,  was  suf- 
ficient; and  La  Fayette  became  acquainted  with  the  doctor’s 
project. 

Preparations  having  been  made,  Dr.  Bollmann  visited  se- 
veral gentlemen  on  their  estates  in  Moravia,  and  took  an  op- 
portunity of  again  stopping  at  Olmutz,  where  he  called  upon 
the  surgeon,  who  returned  him  the  pamphlet,  formerly  left 
for  La  Fayette.  He  found  that  the  margin  had  been  written 
over  with  sympathetic  ink — lime-juice — and,  on  applying 
heat,  learned  that  the  captive,  on  account  of  his  enfeebled 
state  of  health,  had,  at  length,  obtained  permission  to  take 
an  airing,  in  a carriage,  on  stated  days  of  the  week,  accom- 
panied by  a military  guard;  and  that  by  far  the  easiest  mode 
of  restoring  him  to  liberty,  would  be  to  attack  the  guard, 
on  one  of  these  excursions,  and  carry  him  suddenly  away. 

The  heroic  Bollmann  was  not  slow  in  preparing  to  exe- 
cute his  bold  design.  Having  ascertained,  that  La  Fayette, 
2 B 


£90 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


in  taking  his  ride,  sat  m an  open  carriage,  with  an  officei 
bj  his  side,  a driver  on  the  box,  and  two  armed  soldiers 
standing  behind,  he  returned  to  Vienna.  One  coadjutor, 
at  least,  being  indispensable,  he  communicated  his  project 
to  a young  American  gentleman, — Francis  Kinloch  Huger, 
who  had  often  mentioned  to  him,  that  La  Fayette,  on  arriving 
in  America,  first  landed  at  his  father’s  house,  in  South  Ca- 
rolina, and  there  used  often  to  caress  him,  on  his  knees, 
when  a boy.*  The  warm-hearted  and  enthusiastic  Huger, 
promptly  entered  into  the  whole  design,  and  devoted  himself 
to  its  execution,  with  the  most  romantic  earnestness. 

These  were  the  only  two  persons,  except  La  Fayette  him- 
self, informed  of  the  intended  rescue;  and  neither  of  them 
knew  the  captive  general,  by  sight.  But  difficulties -are  no 
obstacle,  in  the  rainds  of  the  generous  and  brave.  On  the 
eighth  day  of  November  (1794 ) they  reached  Olmutz;  and 
their  servant  was  despatched,  at  an  early  hour,  to  Hoff,  a 
post-town,  about  twenty-five  miles  distant,  with  orders  to 
nave  fresh  horses  ready  at  four  o’clock. 

The  interesting  moment  was  approaching.  Success  would 
restore  a gallant  patriot  to  liberty  and  health; — a failure  might 
draw  still  tighter  the  shackles  of  a cruel  bondage,  and  hasten 
his  wretched  passage  to  a horrid  grave. — To  avoid  all  mis- 
takes, it  had  been  concerted,  between  the  parties,  that,  when 
they  attempted  the  rescue,  each  should  take  off  his  hat,  and 
wipe  his  forehead,  in  token  of  recognition. — Their  saddle- 
horses  were  now  ready,  at  the  inn,  and  Mr.  Huger  feigned  some 
business  near  the  town  gate,  in  order  to  watch  the  moment 
when  the  carriage  passed.  The  carriage  at  length  appeared; . 
and,  as  soon  as  he  saw  it,  he  hastened  back  to  the  inn.  His 
friend  immediately  mounted,  and  followed  it,  at  some  distance, 
armed  only  with  a pair  of  pistols,  charged  with  powder,  but 
not  with  bail.  Their  success  was  calculated  on  surprise;  and, 
under  all  the  circumstances  of  the  case,  to  take  any  person’s 
life,  would  have  been  not  only  imprudent,  but  unjust. 

They  rode  past  the  carriage,  and  then  slackening  their 
pace,  and  allowing  it  again  to  go  ahead,  exchanged  signals 
with  the  prisoner.  At  two  or  three  miles  from  the  gate,  the 
carriage  left  the  high  road,  and  pursued  a less  frequented  tract, 
in  the  midst  of  an  open  country;  the  plain  being  covered 

* This  gentleman’  tame  is  pronounced  as  if  it  were  spelled  Ugee. 
with  the  accent  on  1 jlast  syllable. 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


291 


with  labouring  people.  Presently,  the  carriage  stopped.  La 
Fayette  and  the  officer  alighted,  and  walked  arm-in-arm, 
probably  to  give  the  former  a better  opportunity  for  exercise. 
The  carriage,  with  the  guard,  drove  slowly  on,  but  remained 
in  sight.  This  was  the  critical  moment  for  their  attempt. 
The  two  companions  galloped  up;  and  the  doctor,  dismount- 
ing, left  his  horse  with  Huger.  At  the  same  instant,  La 
Fayette  laid  hold  of  the  officer’s  sword,  but  could  only  halt 
draw  it  from  the  scabbard,  as  it  had  been  seized  also  by  the 
officer,  a man  of  herculean  strength.  The  doctor  joining, 
he  was  presently  disarmed;  but  the  German,  as  resolute  as 
he  was  powerful,  then  grasped  La  Fayette,  held  him  with 
all  his  might,  and  set  up  a tremendous  roar,  like  the  cyclops 
when  wounded  by  Ulysses.  The  guard,  instead  of  coming 
to  his  assistance,  fled,  to  alarm  the  citadel.  The  people  in 
the  field  were  amazed.  A scuffle  ensued.  Huger  passed  the 
br  idles  of  the  two  horses  over  one  of  his  arms,  and  thrust  his 
handkerchief  into  the  officer’s  mouth,  to  stop  the  noise.  The 
officer,  the  prisoner,  and  the  doctor,  fell  upon  the  ground; 
and  the  doctor,  kneeling  upon  the  officer,  kept  him  down 
while  the  general  arose. 

Unfortunately,  one  of  the  horses,  taking  fright,  had  reared, 
slipped  his  bridle,  and  ran  off.  A countryman  caught  him, 
and  was  holding  him,  at  a considerable  distance;  while  the 
doctor  still  keeping  down  the  officer,  handed  a purse  to  La 
Fayette,  requesting  him  to  mount  the  remaining  horse; 
and  Mr.  Huger,  told  him,  in  English,  to  go  to  Hoff.  But  he 
mistook  the  particular  destination  for  a more  general  di- 
rection—to  go  off — delayed  a moment,  to  see  if  he  could  not 
assist  them — then  went  on — then  rode  back  again,  and  asked, 
once  more,  if  he  could  be  of  no  service — and,  finally,  urged 
anew,  galloped  away,  and  was  in  a minute  out  of  sight. 

Recovering  from  his  panic,  the  officer  fled  towards  Olmutz. 
Dr.  Bollmann  and  Huger  recovered  the  horse  that  had  es- 
caped, and  mounted  him,  intending  to  follow,  and  assist 
La  Fayette.  But  the  animal  unaccustomed  to  carry  two 
persons,  refused  to  perform  this  task,  reared  and  bounded, 
and  presently  threw  both.  Mr.  Huger  immediately  ex- 
claimed, “This  will  not  do! — the  marquis  wants  you — 
push  on,  I’ll  take  my  chance  across  the  country. — The 
doctor  pushed  forward,  and  Mr.  Huger,  who  now  had  little 
chance  of  escape,  was  soon  seized  by  the  peasants,  and  con- 
ducted to  Olmutz.  These  accidents  defeated  their  romantic 


292 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


enterprise.  Dr.  Bollmann  easily  arrived  at  Hoff,  and  being 
anxious  to  receive  some  intelligence  of  him,  lingered  about 
the  frontiers,  until  the  following  night,  when  he  also  was 
arrested. 

La  Fayette  continued  unpursued:  he  had  taken  a wrong 
road,  which  led  to  Jagersdoff,  a town  on  the  Prussian  fron- 
tiers, and  followed  it  as  long  as  his  horse  could  proceed. 
He  had  nearly  reached  the  boundary  of  the  Austrian  rule, 
and,  perceiving  that  his  horse  could  go  no  further,  under 
some  pretext  he  endeavoured  to  prevail  upon  a peasant  to 
procure  him  another  horse,  and  to  attend  him  to  the  frontier. 
The  man  apparently  agreed,  and  went  to  the  village,  for  the 
horse.  But  the  general  had  awakened  suspicion:  the  man 
promptly  returned  from  the  village,  but  he  came  with  a force, 
by  which  the  general  was  arrested,  and  reconducted  to  his 
prison. 

Thus  ended  this  gallant,  though  abortive  enterprise;  and 
thus  was  the  generous  heart  of  La  Fayette  wounded  by  the 
sufferings  of  his  noble  friends.  The  three  prisoners  were 
separately  confined,  and  denied  even  the  consolation  of  know- 
ing each  other’s  fate.  Mr.  Huger  and  doctor  Bollmann  were 
chained  to  the  floor,  each  in  a small  vaulted  dungeon,  with- 
out light,  and  with  only  bread  and  water  for  food;  and  once 
every  six  hours,  by  day  and  by  night,  the  guard  entered,  and 
with  a lamp,  examined  each  brick,  and  each  link  of  their 
galling  chains.  But  a ray  of  hope  at  length  beamed  through 
the  grating  of  their  gloomy  cells.  By  the  powerful,  but  un- 
known intercession,  of  many  of  the  personal  friends  of  Dr. 
Bollman,  the  rigour  of  their  confinement  was  relaxed,  and 
on  the  conclusion  of  their  trial,  they  were  sentenced  to  no 
more  than  two  weeks  additional  confinement,  after  having 
been  already  imprisoned  about  eight  months. 

Meanwhile,  La  Fayette  was  re-assigned  to  his  obscure  and 
ignominious  sufferings,  with  scarcely  a hope  that  they  could 
be  terminated,  except  by  death.  The  irons  were  so  closely 
fastened  around  his  ancles,  that,  for  three  months  he  endured 
the  most  excruciating  torture;  no  light  was  allowed  to  pierce 
the  stygean  darkness  of  his  solitary  dungeon:  he  was  even 
refused  the  smallest  change  of  linen:  to  his  bodily  tortures, 
were  added  the  agonies  of  his  mind: — he  was  made  to  believe 
that,  he  was  reserved  only  for  a public  execution,  and  that  his 
chivalric  deliverers  had  already  perished  on  the  scaffold; 
while,  at  the  same  time,  he  was  not  allowed  to  know  whether 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


293 


his  family  were  still  alive,  or  had  fallen  under  the  revolution- 
ary axe;  ol  which,  during  the  few  days  he  was  out  of  his 
dungeon, he  had  heard  accounts  so  appalling  to  a feeling  heart. 

Madame  de  La  Fayette,  however,  was  still  alive;  and,  the 
reign  of  terror  having  been  crushed  in  France,  this  amiable 
and  heroic  female,  with  her  two  lovely  daughters,  Anastasia 
and  Virginia,  were  released  from  their  imprisonment,  in  Paris, 
and  permitted,  by  the  emperor  of  Germany,  to  enjoy  the  sad 
consolation  of  sharing  in  a husband’s  and  a father’s  cell.  The 
son  of  La  Fayette  had  escaped  the  insatiate  guillotine,  and 
found  a sure  asylum,  in  the  United  States — in  that  country 
which  was  so  largely  indebted  to  his  father’s  sword;  and  in 
the  bosom  of  the  immortal  Washington,  his  father’s  friend. 
The  intercession  of  the  American  president,  as  humane  as 
he  was  great  and  brave,  failed  to  obtain  the  liberation  of  La 
Fayette.  The  voice  of  general  Tarleton — who  had  fought 
against  him  in  Virginia, — the  eloquence  of  Wilberforce  and 
Fox,  of  Sheridan  and  Grey,  in  the  British  parliament — were 
unsuccessful;  and  it  was  not  until  the  dictator  of  sovereigns, 
the  subduer  of  thrones  and  kingdoms,  issued  his  imperious 
mandate,  that  the  incarcerated  patriot  was  freed  from  his 
galling  chains,  and  allowed  to  retire  to  his  paternal  mansion 
of  La  Grange.  * 

The  lives  of  few  men  have  been  so  pure,  as  that  of  La 
Fayette.  Few  characters  have  been  loftier,  few  popular 
persons  have  better  deserved,  and  longer  retained,  popular- 
ity. Though,  in  France,  he  may  have  committed  some  errors, 
he  never  had  in  view  but  one  object — liberty;  and  never 
employed  but  one  means  of  obtaining  it — the  law. 

The  affairs  of  the  colonies,  at  this  period,  must  not  be 
passed  over,  unnoticed.  The  commotions  which  agitated  the 
mother  country,  were  trifling,  when  compared  with  the  ani- 
mosities in  the  West  Indies.  The  liberal  designs  of  the 
national  assembly,  which  had  for  their  object  to  ameliorate 
the  condition  of  the  slaves,  and  the  admission  of  free  people 
of  colour  into  the  colonial  assemblies,  kindled  the  whole  of 
the  French  islands  into  a flame.  The  white  population 
resisted  the  decrees  of  the  national  assembly.  In  Martinico 
and  the  other  small  islands,  after  much  contest,  order  was 
partly  restored;  but  St.  Domingo  continued,  for  a long  time, 

* La  Fayette  was  liberated,  on  the  19th  of  September,  1797,  after  an 
imprisonment  of  more  than  five  years,  by  an  article  in  the  treaty  of 
Campo-Formio,  dictated  by  the  victorious  Buonaparte. 

2 n 2 


£94 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


a melancholy  scene  of  desolation  and  civil  war.  The  negroes 
seized  the  opportunity,  thus  afforded,  to  break  their  chains. 
In  the  northern  districts,  alone,  one-hundred-thousand  of 
the  African  race  revolted;  and,  wherever  they  were  opposed, 
carried  destruction  and  death  into  the  fields  of  their  op- 
pressors. More  than  two-hundred  plantations  were  burned; 
the  ships  afforded  the  only  asylum  from  inevitable  massacre, 
and  immense  numbers  of  the  white  inhabitants  sought  refuge 
in  the  United  States. 

England  did  not  contemplate,  with  indifference,  the  events 
of  the  revolution.  Indications  were  early  given,  of  the  part 
she  intended  to  act;  and,  though  professions  of  neutrality 
were  made,  by  Mr.  Dundas,  in  a letter  addressed,  by  him, 
to  the  executive  council,  the  English  ambassador,  at  Paris, 
was,  at  this  period,  recalled,  and  the  French  ambassador  at 
London  was  no  longer  respected. 

A decree,  passed  in  the  assembly,  by  which  La  Fayette 
was  declared  guilty  of  high  treason,  was  a measure  naturally 
to  be  expected;  nor  did  the  execution  of  several  individuals, 
charged  with  holding  a correspondence  with  the  enemy, 
cause  any  unusual  sensation  of  alarm;  but  the  massacre,  on  the 
set  ond  and  third  days  of  September,  of  more  than  two-thou- 
sand persons,  imprisoned  on  a charge  of  conspiracy  against 
the  nation,  by  the  instigation  chiefly  of  Danton,  Robespierre, 
and  Marat,  filled  the  whole  civilized  world  with  horror;  as 
surpassing,  in  relentless  cruelty,  the  atrocious  slaughters  of 
the  bloodiest  days  of  ancient  Rome. 

The  murderers  proceeded  with  a kind  of  method,  in  their 
crimes.  They  impanneled  a jury,  nine  of  whom,  it  is  said, 
were  Italians,  and  the  other  three  French.  The  watch-word 
that  pronounced  the  accused  guilty,  was 66 II  faut  largir ,”  (he 
must  be  set  at  liberty;)  when  the  victim  was  hurried  from 
the  door  of  the  prison,  to  pass  through  a defile  of  miscreants, 
differently  armed;  and  was  cut  to  pieces,  with  sabres,  or 
pierced  through  the  body,  with  a hundred  pikes. 

The  jurors  and  the  executioners  often  exchanged  places; 
the  jurors  going  out,  to  take  the  executioners’  duty,  the  execu- 
tioners, with  their  reeking  hands,  sitting  as  jurors,  in  their 

In  the  dungeon  of  La  Force,  was  the  beautiful  and  ac- 
complished princess  de  Lamballe,  the  friend  and  confidant 
of  the  queen.  When  summoned  to  appear  before  the  bloody 
tribunal,  she  was  in  bed,  but  she  dressed  in  haste;  and,  as  she 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


295 


was  conducted  out  of  the  prison,  stupified  with  horror,  at 
sight  of  the  mangled  bodies  that  lay  around  her,  she  received 
a blow,  upon  the  head,  with  a sabre;  and,  when,  at  last,  she 
fainted,  and  became  so  enfeebled,  as  to  be  unable  to  proceed 
further,  her  head  was  severed  from  her  body.  Her  mangled 
corpse  was  exposed  to  indignities  of  every  kind;  and  her  head, 
fixed  on  a pike,  was  carried  to  the  Temple,  and  shown  to 
the  queen;  who  fainted  at  the  horrid  sight. 

The  assembly  wished  to  put  a stop  to  these  cruel  massacres, 
but  could  not;  the  ministry  were  as  impotent  as  the  assem- 
bly; and  the  soldiers,  by  whom  the  prisoners  were  guarded, 
durst  not  prevent  the  murderers  from  perpetrating  their  work 
of  death. 

But,  in  the  same  degree  that  the  French  nation  became 
turbulent  and  ferocious,  they  became  also  enthusiastic  and 
brave.  One  universal  movement  of  headlong  courageousness, 
and  of  resistless  impetuosity,  pervaded  France;  which,  like 
the  wild  fury  of  a mountain  torrent,  that  sweeps  before  it* 
in  its  thundering  descent,  every  obstacle  by  which  it  is  op- 
posed, drove  back  the  advancing  columns  of  the  enemy,  and 
enabled  even  beardless  boys  to  chase,  before  their  new- 
raised  banners,  the  experienced  veterans  of  Austria  and 
Prussia,  and  scatter  them,  though  thrice  their  number,  like 
leaves  before  the  wind. 

The  name  of  citizen  was  now  the  universal  salutation,  to 
all  classes.  Even  when  a deputy  spoke  to  a shoe-black, 
that  fond  symbol  of  equality  was  regularly  exchanged  be- 
tween them;  and,  in  the  ordinary  intercourse  of  society,  there 
was  the  most  ridiculous  affectation  of  republican  brevity  and 
familiarity. — 44  When  you  conquer  Brussels,”  said  Collot 
d’Herbois,  the  actor,  to  general  Dumourier,  44  my  wife,  who 
is  in  that  city,  has  my  permssion  to  reward  you  with  a 
kiss  ” — 44  Citizen  General,”  said  the  deputy,  Camus, 44  thou 
dost  meditate  the  part  of  Caesar;  but  remember,  I will  be  like 
Brutus,  and  plunge  a dagger  into  your  bosom.” — 44  My  dear 
Camus,”  said  the  witty  soldier,  not  in  the  least  alarmed  by 
this  classical  threat,”  I am  no  more  like  Caesar,  than  you  are 
like  Brutus:  an  assurance  that  I should  live  until  you  kill 
me,  would  be  equal  to  a brevet  of  immortality.” 

Dumourier  was  appointed  to  succeed  La  Fayette.  The 
enemy  had  advanced  rapidly,  towards  the  end  of  July  and 
beginning  of  August:  the  confusion  and  terror  produced  by 
the  transactions  which  we  have  just  narrated,  encouraged 


<296 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


them  in  their  Quixotic  enterprise;  and  the  first  conquest 
achieved  by  them,  was  that  of  Longwy.  On  the  twenty- 
first  of  August,  this  fortress  was  taken,  by  General  Clairfait; 
and,  soon  afterwards,  Verdun  was  entered,  by  the  duke  of 
Brunswick.  The  road  to  the  capital  was  thus  laid  open. 
But  the  towns,  captured  by  the  confederated  generals,  were 
soon  retaken.  Dumourier  and  Keliermann  were  successful, 
not  only  in  checking  the  advance  of  the  duke  of  Brunswick, 
but  in  lowering  his  tone,  so  completely,  that  he  asked  permis- 
sion to  retreat,  unmolested;  acknowledged  the  right  of  the 
French  people  to  make  their  own  laws;  desired  nothing  fur- 
ther than  the  admission  of  Louis  into  the  government,  how- 
ever limited  in  power;  and,  before  the  end  of  October,  eva- 
cuated the  territories  of  France,  after  having  lost  one -third 
of  his  formidable  host. 

The  arms  of  France  were,  at  this  period,  victorious,  in 
every  quarter.  The  king  of  Sardinia  had  long  shown  him- 
self hostile  to  the  revolution;  and,  after  the  affair  of  the 
tenth  of  August,  had  held  a congress  of  the  foreign  ministers, 
to  debate  on  a plan  for  invading  France.  The  national  as- 
sembly, therefore,  on  the  sixteenth  of  September,  declared 
war  against  that  sovereign;  general  Montesquieu  having 
entered  Savoy,  the  people  joyfully  flocked  to  his  standard, 
and  the  whole  country  submitted,  without  resistance.  Ge- 
neral Anselm,  supported  by  the  co-operation  of  a fleet, 
under  the  command  of  admiral  Truguet,  was  equally  suc- 
cessful, against  Nice;  and  the  conquests  of  general  Custine, 
in  the  circle  of  the  Upper  Rhine,  were  not  less  brilliant, 
than  those  of  his  colleagues.  Before  the  end  of  October, 
lie  saw  the  tricoloured  banners  proudly  floating  over  the 
citadels  of  Spires,  Worms,  Frankfort,  and  Mentz. 

Even  the  female  sex  partook  in  the  general  enthusiasm; 
and  many  ot  them  proved  equal,  in  courage  and  conduct,  to 
our  own.  Not  only  the  sister  of  general  Anselm,  and  two 
young  ladies,  of  the  name  of  Fernigs,  who  served  as  aids- 
de-camp  to  general  Dumourier,  and  another  young  woman 
who  acted  as  aid-de-camp  to  general  Custine,  but  many  other 
Frenchwomen,  distinguished  themselves,  by  the  most  heroic 
exertions;  and  even  the  artillery  was  often  served  by  female 
patriots;  who,  by  their  spirit  and  activity,  compensated  for 
that  want  of  force  and  vigour,  which  had  hitherto  been  ex- 
clusively attributed  to  men. 

The  Austrians  continued  to  retire,  before  the  victorious 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


297 


French.  The  first  resistance  experienced  by  Dumourier, 
was  at  the  village  of  Bossu  ; but  the  fate  of  the  Netherlands, 
was  decided,  by  the  victory  of  Gemappe.  After  this  achieve- 
ment, which  has  immortalized  the  name  of  the  French  com- 
mander, he  pursued  his  successful  career,  by  capturing  the 
city  of  Mons;  and,  after  an  action  of  six  hours,  with  the 
prince  of  Wirtemburg,  he  made  a triumphant  entry  into 
Brussels. 

In  the  mean  time,  Tournay  and  Malines,  Ghent  and 
Antwerp,  opened  their  gates,  to  general  La  Bourdonnaye; 
and  Louvain  and  Namur  were  taken,  by  Valence;  so  that, 
before  the  conclusion  of  the  year,  the  whole  of  the  Austrian 
Netherlands,  Luxembourg  only  excepted,  was  subjected  to 
the  arms  of  France. 

Profiting  by  the  tide  of  fortune,  Dumourier  pursued  the 
flying  enemy,  into  the  territory  of  Liege.  Having  again 
beaten  the  Austrians,  at  Tirlemont,  he  stopped  there  only 
one  day,  to  refresh  his  troops;  and,  on  the  twenty-seventh 
of  November,  overtook,  almost  at  the  gates  of  Liege,  the 
rear-guard  of  the  imperialists,  amounting  to  twelve-thousand 
men,  under  the  command  of  general  Star  ray;  and,  having 
driven  them  from  six  villages,  in  succession,  and  at  length 
from  an  intrenchment,  totally  defeated  them,  with  the  loss 
of  their  commander;  on  the  following  day,  he  entered  the 
city,  after  a series  of  rapid  triumphs,  almost  unparalleled,  in 
the  history  of  war. 

But  the  glory  of  Dumourier  had  reached  its  zenith.  He 
soon  afterwards  fell  a prey  to  the  intrigues  of  a faction;  whose 
views,  like  his  own,  were  confined  to  personal  ambition. 
Under  the  influence  of  this  party,  the  war-minister,  Pache, 
is  supposed  to  have  acted;  and  every  criminal  means  appears 
to  have  been  practised,  to  distress  his  gallant  soldiers.  While 
immense  sums  were  levied,  by  the  convention,  the  army  was 
destitute  of  every  necessary  of  life.  Unprovided  with  mat- 
trasses  or  coverlets,  these  brave  men,  who  had  gained  those 
immortal  battles,  were  compelled,  in  a rainy  and  inclement 
winter,  to  sleep  on  the  wet  ground,  and  some,  to  avoid  the 
evils  consequent  upon  such  a situation,  lashed  themselves  to 
the  trunks  of  trees,  and  slept  upon  their  feet.  The  soldiers 
were  almost  naked,  without  coats,  without  shoes;  and  their 
arms  were  rendered  unserviceable,  from  the  want  of  cloaks, 
to  cover  them  from  the  rain.  Numbers  of  the  men  perished, 
still  greater  numbers  deserted,  and  returned  home;  more 


£98 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


than  fifteen-thousand  were  in  the  hospitals,  and  ten-thousand 
horses  died,  for  want  of  food. 

NATIONAL  CONVENTION. 

Meanwhile,  on  the  twenty-first  of  September,  the  As- 
sembly had  terminated  its  sittings,  and  was  succeeded  by 
the  National  Convention.  The  first  president  chosen,  was 
Petion;  the  vice-president  was  Condorcet;  the  secretaries, 
Brissot  and  Lasource,  Vergniaud,  Camus,  and  Rabaud. 

The  fate  of  Louis  now  hung  suspended  by  a thread.  Collot 
d’Herbois  appeared  on  the  tribune,  and  reminded  the  con- 
vention, that  there  was  one  declaration  that  could  not,  for  a 
moment,  be  deferred — the  eternal  abolition  of  royalty,  in 
France: — the  abolition  was  voted  by  acclamation,  and  the 
house  adjourned. 

CHAPTER  VII. 

REPUBLIC. 

Decapitation  of  Louis  XVI.— War  with  Great  Britain. 

ON  the  sixth  of  November,  a report  of  accusation  was  made 
against  the  king;  on  the  eleventh  of  December,  he  was 
ordered  to  the  bar  of  the  convention,  when  his  trial  com- 
menced; and  on  the  twenty-sixth, he  entered  upon  his  defence. 

The  countenance  of  Louis,  on  entering  the  hall,  was  firm 
and  manly;  and  he  looked  round  upon  the  assembly,  with 
an  air  of  resolution.  As  he  stood  at  the  bar,  the  president 
said  to  him,  with  a faltering  voice;  “ Louis,  the  French 
nation  accuses  you ; you  are  now  about  to  hear  the  reading  of 
the  act,  declaratory  of  the  charges.  Louis,  sit  down. ?? — 
During  the  long  interrogatory,  he  discovered  great  calmness 
and  presence  of  mind.  He  replied  to  each  question  with 
readiness,  and  generally  in  a touching  and  triumphant 
manner. 

When  he  returned  to  the  temple,  the  convention  debated 
on  the  demand  he  had  made  of  a defender.  It  was  in  vain, 
that  some  of  the  Mountainists  opposed  the  motion:  the  con- 
vention determined  that  Louis  should  have  counsel.  He  him- 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


299 


self  had  mentioned  Target  and  Tronchet;  but  the  former 
refused.  It  was  then,  that  the  venerable  Malesherbes  of- 
fered himself  to  the  convention,  to  defend  his  fallen  master. 
They  acceded  to  his  chivalric  offer.  Louis  was  touched, 
by  this  proof  of  devotion  to  his  cause.  When  Malesherbes 
entered  his  chamber,  he  went  up  to  him,  embraced  him,  and 
said,  “ The  sacrifice  you  make  for  me,  is  so  much  the  more 
grievous,  as  you  expose  your  own  life,  without  a chance  of 
saving  mine.” 

Malesherbes  and  Tronchet  applied  themselves  uninter- 
ruptedly in  preparing  his  defence,  and  joined  with  themselves 
M.  Deseze. 

The  discussions  on  the  defence  of  Louis,  and  on  the  sepa- 
rate propositions  of  several  members,  continued  for  many 
days.  Some  were  for  an  immediate  vote,  on  the  general 
charge,  and  execution,  without  delay, — as  Marat,  Robes- 
pierre, Chabot,  Robert,  Fabre,  Legendre,  St.  Just,  and 
Danton:  others  were  of  opinion,  that  he  ought  to  suffer  death, 
but  deemed  it  right  to  discuss  the  expediency  of  retarding  or 
accelerating  the  punishment;  as  Mailhe,  Freilhard,  Gaudet, 
Gensonne,  Yergniaud,  and  Brissot:  a third  party  assented 
to  his  absolute  guilt,  but  wished  that  he  should  be  confined, 
during  the  war,  and  then  banished.  Of  this  opinion,  were 
Petion,  Manuel,  Salles,  Bussaulx,  Rabaud,  Cambaceres, 
Guellimard,  Louvet,  Charles,  Villette,  and  Thomas  Paine. 

The  fourteenth  of  January  was  appointed,  for  the 
i decision.  On  the  question,  “Is  Louis  guilty  of  a 
conspiracy  against  the  liberty  of  the  nation,  and  of  attempts 
against  the  safety  of  the  state?” — of  seven -hundred-and- 
thirteen  members  who  were  present,  six-hundred-and-eighty- 
seven  voted  that  he  was  guilty.  On  the  seventeenth,  upon 
the  question,  “What  punishment  shall  he  suffer?” — of  seven- 
hundred-and-twenty-one  members,  twenty-one  voted  for 
death,  demanding  a discussion  of  the  period:  one,  for  death, 
with  a reserve  of  its  commutation,  or  a delay;  two,  for  death, 
but  not  to  be  executed  until  the  conclusion  of  peace;  two 
for  chains;  three-hundred-and-nineteen,  for  imprisonment 
and  banishment;  three-hundred-and-sixty-six,  for  death;  the 
majority  for  unconditional  death,  being  only  eleven. 

The  president,  Barrere,  then  lowering  his  voice,  amidst 
the  most  profound  and  awful  silence,  said — 66 1 declare,  in 
the  name  of  the  convention,  that  the  punishment  which  it 
pronounces  against  Louis  Capet,  is — Death.” 


soo 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


When  the  duke  of  Orleans,  who  sat  as  a member  of  the  con- 
vention, under  the  name  of  citizen  Egafite,  was  asked  for 
his  vote,  there  was  a deep  pause;  and  when  his  answer  was 
death , the  auditors  were  electrified  with  a momentary  horror 
The  defenders  of  Louis  appeared  at  the  bar,  and  seemed 
deeply  moved.  They  endeavoured  to  recall  the  assembly 
to  sentiments  of  pity,  in  consideration  of  the  small  majority 
of  voices  by  which  he  was  condemned.  But  the  question 
had  been  already  discussed,  and  decided. — “ Laws  are  fram- 
ed only  by  means  of  a simple  majority,”  said  a Mountain- 
ist. — “Yes,”  said  a voice;  “ but  decrees  may  be  reformed, 
and  the  life  of  a man  can  never  be  recalled.” — Malesherbes 
wished  to  speak,  but  could  not.  His  voice  was  stifled  by  his 
sobs,  and  the  only  words  that  were  audible,  were  broken  and 
imploring.  His  grief  touched  the  assembly.  The  Giron- 
dists now  called  for  delay,  as  a last  resource;  but  they  failed 
m this  also,  and  the  fatal  sentence  was  pronounced. 

Louis  was  allowed  the  assistance  of  a priest,  and  a free 
communication  with  his  wife  and  children.  The  moment  of 
the  interview  was  terrible,  for  that  unfortunate  family;  and 
that  of  their  separation,  still  more  affecting.  On  quitting 
them,  Louis  promised  to  see  them  again,  the  next  day;  but, 
on  entering  his  chamber,  he  felt  that  the  trial  was  too  dis- 
tressing for  him;  and,  as  he  walked  about  the  room,  he  said 
to  himself — “ I shall  not  go.” — This  was  his  last  straggle: 
he  afterwards  thought  only  of  preparing  for  death.  The 
twenty-first  of  January  was  fixed  for  his  execution.  On  the 
night  preceding,  he  had  a peaceful  slumber.  On  being 
awoke,  at  five  o’clock,  by  Clery,  whom  he  had  ordered  to 
call  him  at  that  time,  he  made  his  last  testament,  received 
the  communion,  charged  Clery  with  his  last  words,  and  with 
all  that  he  was  allowed  to  dispose  of  by  will — a ring,  a seal, 
and  some  hair.  Already  tiie  drums  began  to  beat,  and  a 
confused  sound  of  cannon  dragged  along,  and  human  voices, 
were  heard.  At  length,  Santerre  arrived. — “ You  are  come 
for  me,”  said  Louis;  “ I require  only  a moment .” — He  then 
gave  his  will  to  a municipal  officer,  asked  for  his  hat,  and 
said,  in  a firm  tone  of  voice,  “ Let  us  go .” 

The  carriage  occupied  an  hour  in  passing  from  the  temple 
to  the  square  of  the  revolution.  A double  line  of  soldiers 
guarded  the  road;  and  more  than  four-thousand  men  were 
under  arms.  Amongst  the  citizens,  there  were  signs  ap- 
parent neither  of  approbation  nor  regret: — all  were  silent. 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


SOI 


On  their  arrival  at  the  place  of  execution,  Louis  descended 
from  the  carriage.  He  mounted  the  ladder  of  the  scaffold 
with  a firm  step,  and  received,  on  his  knees,  the  blessing  of 
the  priest,  Mr.  Edgworth.  He  allowed  his  hands  to  be  tied, 
though  with  some  reluctance;  and,  turning  to  the  left  of  the 
scaffold — “ I die  innocent,”  said  he;  66 1 forgive  my  ene- 
mies:—-and  you,  unfortunate  people  ” — At  this  moment, 
the  signal  for  the  drums  to  beat,  was  given;  the  sound  of 
their  roll  drowned  his  voice;  the  three  executioners  seized 
him;  and  the  reverend  clergyman  exclaimed, 6 6 Son  of  St. 
Louis,  ascend  to  heaven!” 

After  suffering  decapitation,  by  the  quick-descending  guil- 
lotine, the  body  of  Louis  was  conveyed,  in  a cart,  to  the  parish 
church  of  St.  Madelaine;  the  grave  was  filled  with  quick- 
lime, and  a guard  placed  over  it,  until  the  corpse  was  con- 
sumed; and,  that  no  mark  might  remain  of  the  royal  sufferer, 
over  which  the  tear  of  loyalty  might  be  shed,  or  the  sigh  of 
regret  be  uttered,  for  the  prostration  of  an  ancient  throne, 
the  ground  was  carefully  levelled  with  the  surrounding  earth. 

Thus  perished,  at  the  age  of  thirty-nine,  after  a reign  of 
eighteen  years  and  three  months,  the  most  unfortunate  of 
monarchs.  Charles  the  first,  of  England,  was  the  first  king 
that  had  been  tried  and  put  to  death,  by  his  subjects;  Louis 
the  sixteenth,  was  the  second.  Louis  was  rather  a lover  of 
his  subjects,  than  a tyrant.  The  revolution  was  an  inherit- 
ance, bequeathed  to  him  by  his  ancestors.  He  perished  a 
victim  to  circumstances,  which  he  was  unable  to  control;  to 
the  passions  of  those  about  him,  in  which  he  did  not  parti- 
cipate, and  to  those  of  the  multitude,  which  he  had  not 
excited. 

The  widow  of  the  decapitated  monarch,  was  not  allowed 
ong  to  survive  him.  On  the  fifteenth  of  October,  she  was 
arraigned,  before  the  revolutionary  tribunal,  and  pronounced 
guilty  of  conspiring  against  the  French  republic;  and,  the 
next  day  suffered  death,  on  the  scaffold,  in  the  thirty-ninth 
year  of  her  age. 

In  the  month  of  May,  in  the  ensuing  year,  the  blood  of 
the  princess  Elizabeth  was  demanded;  and,  though  not  a 
single  witness  was  produced  against  her,  nor  any  charge 
made,  by  which  she  was,  in  the  smallest  degree,  inculpated^ 
she  was  sentenced  to  undergo  the  same  tragical  fate,  as  her 
brother  and  the  queen. 

The  dauphin,  now  in  his  eighth  year,  who  had  been  pro- 
2 C 


302 


HISTORY  OF  FRANCE. 


claimed,  by  his  uncle,  the  count  d’Artois,  king  of  France, 
under  the  title  of  Louis  XVII.,  was  intrusted  to  the  care  of 
a shoemaker,  named  Simon,  for  the  purpose  of  being  taught 
his  trade;  and  died,  soon  afterwards,  in  consequence  of  the 
cruel  treatment  he  received,  or,  as  some  assert,  by  poison; 
his  uncle,  the  count  de  Provence,  assuming  the  regal  dig- 
nity, as  Louis  XVIII. 

The  dauphiness,  the  sole  remaining  child  of  Louis,  still 
younger  than  her  brother,  was  detained,  for  a considerable 
time,  in  the  prison  of  the  Concergerie;  and  at  length  per- 
mitted to  leave  her  place  of  confinement  and  her  country,* 
in  exchange  for  La  Fayette  and  his  companions;  who,  on 
that  condition,  were  delivered,  by  Austria,  from  the  gloomy 
dungeons  of  Olmutz. 

* On  the  nineteenth  of  December,  1795. — This  interesting  princess 
was  afterwards  married  to  her  cousin,  the  duke  d’Angouleme  eldest 
son  of  the  count  d Artois;  who,  at  the  period  of  this  history  being 
written,  is  king  of  France,  under  the  title  of  Charles  X. 


FINIS. 


XT  A continuation  of  this  history  has  been  written , in  a separate 
and  distinct  volume;  entitled,  “Tun  Life  of  Napoleon,  with  the 
History  of  France,  from  the  Death  of  Louis  XVL  to  the  year  1821.” 


